daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, has announced the awarding of the contract to construct the new West Apron Vehicle Underpass at Dublin Airport to the joint venture of Sacyr Ireland Ltd and Wills Bros Ltd. The €265 million contract was awarded under an Airfield and Landside Civil Works Framework (Lot 2) agreement and marks a significant milestone in the airport’s long-term infrastructure development strategy.
The project, which is scheduled for completion by August 2030, will see the construction of a 1.1-kilometre subterranean twin-cell tunnel connecting Pier 3 at Dublin Airport to the West Apron. The underpass will pass beneath key operational areas including the Cross Runway (16/34) at Dublin Airport and four taxiways.
The underpass will provide a dedicated, segregated route for airside vehicles - such as cargo operators, fuel bowsers, tugs, loaders, steps, and catering trucks - between the remote West Apron and the Eastern Campus, where most airport services and facilities are located.
Wills Bros and Sacyr were previously engaged in a joint venture as part of the 'SWS Joint Venture' to deliver the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe highway, one of the largest infrastructure projects built to date, delivered for the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
Kenny Jacobs, daa’s CEO said: “This underpass is about keeping people safe and keeping the airport moving. It’s a critical piece of infrastructure that’ll make a big difference - cutting travel times, boosting efficiency, and future-proofing the place as we grow. It’s the right project, at the right time, with the right team to deliver it.”
Vincent Harrison, daa’s Chief Commercial and Development Officer said: “The West Apron Vehicle Underpass will not only enhance our operational efficiency but also ensure a seamless experience for our passengers and aviation partners at Dublin Airport. daa is committed to investing in critical strategic infrastructure and this project is testament to our willingness and desire to get building world-class facilities as soon as planning permissions are granted”
This vital infrastructure is the first work order within a five-year framework contract awarded to the Sacyr-Wills Joint Venture and is critical to ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the airfield at Dublin Airport.
"We look forward to working together with daa to create improved access and safety on the airfield at Dublin Airport in a construction project that will help meet the needs of its passengers, whilst ensuring Dublin Airport can develop as a leading European and transatlantic hub,” commented Alejandro Mendoza, Director of Operations at Sacyr UK, Ireland and Sweden.
Aidan McCaul, Contracts Director at Wills Bros, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this critical project for the daa. As a family-run business with over 53 years of experience, our self-delivery model has enabled us to consistently deliver large and complex civil engineering projects across Ireland. With a dedicated office in the Dublin region, we’re proud to bring our proven capability and commitment to excellence to this important development for daa.”
The need for the underpass has become increasingly urgent following the opening of the new North Runway at Dublin Airport in August 2022. The Irish Aviation Authority has confirmed that apron vehicles can no longer cross Runway 16/34, which now serves as a primary taxiway. Without the underpass, vehicle access to the West Apron would be forced onto circuitous and inefficient routes, severely impacting time-critical operations such as cargo handling and general aviation.
The twin-cell design ensures operational resilience, allowing one lane to remain open in the event of maintenance or an incident in the other. The project also includes the reconfiguration of 23,700 square metres of the airport to accommodate layout changes and associated infrastructure works.
This investment underscores daa’s commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards while supporting future growth at Dublin Airport. The underpass will play a pivotal role in enabling the airport to grow to a projected capacity of 40 million passengers per annum and to accommodate the continued expansion of cargo and contingency operations on the West Apron.
Construction will be carried out using cut-and-cover techniques, with a full traffic management plan in place to minimise disruption to airport operations and the local community.
