A key customer convenience project at Orlando International Airport’s (MCO) Terminal C involving a pedestrian bridge is progressing along its construction timeline.
Last month, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Board voted to award the contract to build the Multimodal Connector Pedestrian Bridge and Rental Car Lobby to The Weitz Company LLC.
“More importantly, as we implement this pedestrian bridge, are the number of items we put back, including the moving walkways, building out the rental car lobby the way it needed to be and using a new procurement process that got us to the best technical with the lowest price,” said Kevin Thibault, GOAA Chief Executive Officer. “Immediately after opening Terminal C we started on the procurement for this. We were very fortunate in working with Washington to get federal funds to help support this expansion.”
Initially part of Terminal C Phase 1, the project was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), federal funding enabled the Aviation Authority to update its Capital Improvement Plan to include the Ground Transportation Facility (GTF) Terminal C Pedestrian Bridge Program.
This contract provides for the design and construction of approximately 450 feet of an elevated, enclosed and air-conditioned pedestrian walkway and adjacent rental car lobby area. The facility will provide travelers and visitors convenient access to Terminal C, the Train Station, the Terminal Link people mover connector to the North Terminal and Parking Garage C. The project will also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide accessibility for all individuals, including four moving walkways, elevators, escalators and stairs to navigate between the two facilities.
The fiscal impact is $113,293,387, with funding coming from several sources including FAA BIL Grants, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Grants and Customer Facility Charges.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority operates Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving more than 50 million annual passengers in 2022 in Central Florida. The recently-opened Terminal C is a next level facility that will add 10-12 million annual passengers of capacity and elevate the customer experience.
