Tampa International Airport making remarkable progress with expansion
April 18, 2016
Tampa International Airport (TPA)’s nearly $1 billion Master Plan is progressing on and in some cases ahead of schedule, with concessions, the automated people mover, and the rental car center construction all hitting major milestones in the first quarter of 2016. These improvements will make flying through TPA, already ranked as the best large airport in the nation by passengers, an even better experience for business and leisure travelers.
Shells for both the new P.F. Chang’s and Hard Rock restaurants are complete, and crews are starting to build out the new restaurants, which will border the automated people mover train station and will stand next to a new outdoor terrace. In addition to these two, TPA will open 65 new restaurants, including local favorites such as Four Green Fields and Ducky’s, Illy Espressamente, Guy Harvey’s RumFish Grill, and Dylan’s Candy Bar.
TPA’s rental car center is also coming along quickly. Austin Commercial, the lead on the Master Plan, estimates crews are placing roughly 2,000 cubic yards of concrete per week – that’s more than 200 concrete trucks! As of March 25, crews finished the top-most level of the rental car structure, which will house the customer service building and where passengers enter and exit from the new automated people mover.
TPA also opened its first new airside shuttle lobby toward the end of March. Pushed back approximately 50 feet from the old lobbies to open up the Main Terminal more, the new shuttle lobby features all glass and stainless steel with terrazzo floors.
Many of the installations and upgrades aren’t even within the walls of the top-rated airport. On February 11, TPA and Tampa Electric unveiled solar panels on the top floor of the airport’s south economy parking garage. These panels will produce enough electricity for up to 250 homes and shade for cars parked in the garage.
To follow along with the progress on the Master Plan at Tampa International Airport, please visit: http://www.tampaairport.com/follow-our-progress.
