The rehabilitation and development of Beirut Airport Cost: $450 million, completion date late 1998
The economic plan for Lebanon until the year 2000 includes the rehabilitation and development of Beirut International Airport at a cost of
$450 million so that it can receive six million visitors a year by the end of 1998.
The works have been awarded to contractor Fahmi Karagulla ( value of contract $60 million) and (German-Lebanese) Hoktef - C.C.C (Contract
value $390 million). The project is financed by Arab and international loans of which $100 million from the European Bank for Investment and
$50 million from the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development have already been made available. Lebanon's Council for Development and
Constructions expected to pursue negotiations with Arab and International circles for providing additional financing.
Payment for completed work will be made by payments from a special fund made up of airport taxes and fees. Airport revenues are expected to
increase with the development of air travel and the increase of passengers. Surveys published by the Research and Studies Department of Civil
Aviation show that the highest returns reached during 1994 came from the movement of foods which increased by 18.59 percent in comparison to
1993. Statistics showed that the number of take-offs and landing rose to 19,045 , an increase of 14.86 percent over the previous year's total
of 16,581 and that the growth in passenger numbers reached 11.13 percent in 1993. Total number of passengers was 1,489,429 including the
51,131 transit passengers. Air freight of exports and imports through the airport rose to 54,007 tons. an increase of 18.59 percent over
1993's 45,539 tons.
The Karagulla contract:
The first contract includes the construction of new eastern runway within three years as of November 1993 at cost of $60 million. The runway
will be 3,800 meters long and 45 meters wide with two asphalt sides of 7,5 meters width each. Thus, the total width will be 60 meters.Work on
this part began and will include the diversion of AL Ghadir river and the building of huge installations on Al Qassis Canal used for draining
rain water from Southern Suburb. Work on this part will be completed before the completion of the eastern runway.
The Hoktef - C.C.C Contract:
The German - Lebanese Group contract includes the largest part of the airport project. Starting the actual work required a preparatory period
which extended for a number of months for the building of a center for representatives of the consultants , officials from the Civil Aviation
Directorate and the Council for Development and Reconstruction as well as the preparation of Ouzai port to store the necessary demolishing
material and equipment. The project also required the appropriations of around 800,000 meters costing $160 million.
Stages of Execution.
The Second contract includes the construction of a new 3,400 meter long western runway and a width of 60 meters , 45 meters of cement with
two asphalt sides of 7.5 meters width each. The runway will be 1,900 meters long into the sea with a 2500 meter protection pier. Works on
this port will continue for four years and cost $180 million. The project will also modify the airport terminal building to utilize
additional areas for commercial purposes for the generation of additional revenues. The consultants , Dar Al Handasa, included these
modifications to meet future needs.
The terminal building costs of $116 million include the construction of a new building complementary to the existing one to bring up the
total area from 23,000 to 94,000 square meters. The ground floor of the existing terminal building is 25,000 square meters and is used for
arrivals and the first floor , with an area of 37,000 square meters , caters to departures. Eight other floors with different areas provide
space for the different passengers services.
The project also includes the rehabilitation of six buildings , the construction of two new ones for private aviation and one for important
visitors. Work on this part of the project will begin first due to the urgent need for these buildings.
The buildings to be rehabilitated are :
Public services, electric generation and air-conditioning buildings with a combined area of 5,400 square meters
5,500 square meter aviation safety center
The civil aviation workshop and garage building within an area of 3,400 square meters
630 square meter fire fighting training center
670 square meter customs and the freight building
10,000 square meter catering building.
The new buildings are:
A private aviation building with an area of 2,800 square meters.
The VIP building, 1650 square meters
A building with a parking capacity of 2,200 cars with an area of 46,000 square meters
A 20,000 square meter building for sorting mail.
Ouzai - Costa Brave deviation :
Ouzai - Costa Brava deviation is included in the airport project. It consists of two tunnels within the airport and into the sea towards
Khalde diverting the road to the area outside the airport compound.. The deviation will extend parallel to the Coral Beach Hotel until the
Khalde intersection. A 1,450 meter long bridge will be constructed to bypass the hotels and beaches in the area, continuing to Ouzia Port
along the sea.
The deviation will extend alongside the new sea runway and enter the airport premises. Two 400 meter tunnels each will pass under the runways
to reach Costa Brava Hotel and on to Khalde intersection. A part will extend into the sea and a new intersection on the present Khalde
highway. The costs of this project are $63 million. The Costa Brava deviation , costing $8 million will also be included in the project and
its execution will be in the first phase because it is linked with the construction of the eastern runway.
