Melbourne taxiway advances expansion – Infrastructure Magazine

Melbourne Airport has completed its largest airfield expansion in nearly a decade, unveiling a new 800-metre taxiway that paves the way for critical international terminal upgrades.

Taxiway Delta, which runs parallel to the east-west 09/27 runway, is expected to ease congestion across the airfield by streamlining aircraft movement.

The $300 million project took 11 months to build and involved extensive excavation and pavement works, including 43,000 cubic metres of concrete – roughly double the footprint of the MCG.

The new link is the first major taxiway development since the COVID-19 pandemic and marks the initial phase of infrastructure works to support the expansion of Terminal 2.

Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said the sequencing of such projects requires long-term strategic planning.

“Expanding an airport in a 24/7 environment is akin to playing Tetris,” Parashos said.

“Each piece of the puzzle affects the next.”

By shifting operations further north, the taxiway will unlock the space needed to expand international facilities – seen as essential to accommodate rising demand. The airport handled nearly 40 million passengers in 2023, with strong recovery in international travel driving capacity constraints.

On the technical side, Taxiway Delta features new-generation concrete pavement and LED airfield lighting designed to reduce maintenance needs and operational disruptions.

The works are part of a wider infrastructure push that includes long-term plans for a third runway and expanded terminal precincts.

Industry observers say the project reflects broader aviation sector trends, where airside infrastructure is being modernised to meet post-pandemic growth and future-proof operations.