Dublin Airport’s operator, DAA, has been given permission to build a €200M (£171M) road tunnel beneath its crosswind runway despite opposition from Ryanair, it has been reported.
The project involves constructing a new 1.1km road with two lanes in each direction, with around 0.7km of it enclosed.
This tunnel, described as vital for airfield safety, will enable vehicles to safely cross the airfield and allow aircraft to taxi on both runways while reducing debris.
The tunnel will be 24m wide and 5.5m high, located 17.5m below ground and equipped with drainage.
Construction is expected to last three years, using a cut and cover method and requiring a six-month closure of the crosswind runway except for taxiing.
Demolition and reinstatement of airway surfaces, passenger walkways, air bridges, and realignment of aircraft stands are also planned.
Drainage works and a new Western Compound for deliveries and storage will be included, but no increase in airport capacity is proposed.
The project, approved by Fingal County Council in February 2023, faced appeals to Ireland’s planning authority due to objections from various parties, including Ryanair.
The airline, based at Dublin Airport, expressed concerns about the development, urging a cost-benefit evaluation due to its significant expense and potential disruption.
It questioned the economic justification, especially if it doesn’t boost operational capacity, warning that costs could be passed on to passengers, affecting the recovery of Irish aviation’s competitiveness.
Ryanair also raised issues about the handling of excavated material and criticised the environmental impact assessment report (EIAR) for overlooking associated traffic impacts.
Citing a report by Pell Frischmann on the EIAR, it noted concerns about unassessed worst-case scenarios, uncertain groundwater data, inadequate alternative layouts for the underpass, contradictions regarding passenger bussing, lack of transparency in noise modelling, and insufficient detail on carbon emissions.
A DAA spokesperson told Newcivilengineer.com: “The tunnel is required to improve access and safety on the airfield, allowing for the segregation of aircraft and vehicles, and the movement of vehicles to the West Apron, which has been restricted since the opening of the North Runway in August, 2022.
“Access to the West Apron is critically important to cargo operations, transit operations, general aviation, stand-by parking and contingency stands.”
