McCarthy Revs Up DFW Airport's People Mover Project

DALLAS-McCarthy Building Cos. has kicked off construction on an estimated $15-million project of a futuristic Automated People Mover System that is part of a $2.6 billion capital development program at Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport.

McCarthy has a 15-member crew in place on its portion of the APM project, which is being overseen by Hensel Phelps Construction Co. As the project progresses, McCarthy will have a crew of 50 working on the APM system.

Michael J. McWay, president of McCarthy’s Texas Division, tells GlobeSt.com that this is just the first of several airport projects that McCarthy hopes to secure. He says the team also will be sizing up additional terminal work, parking garage and more of the APM system, which is projected to take nearly four years to complete. For now, McCarthy’s focus is the contract that’s in hand and one that requires the bulk of the work to be done between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The APM system is being constructed 30 feet to 35 feet above the ground and eventually will wrap around the airport’s exterior to take in all terminals. This leg of the project–and McCarthy’s contract–entails construction of the elevated system for Terminal E and the future Terminal F. McCarthy also is building the system for Southgate, which will span the airport’s International parkway. The pact calls for McCarthy to complete its portion of the APM system in 18 months.

Work has just started with apron-level construction and erection of pre-cast columns. The night shift work is to wrap up in 11 months and open the door for the start of the Southgate connector, which includes installation of structural steel and support concrete. McCarthy’s final stage will be to install horizontal decks and beams in Terminal F, which will be completed on the day shift.

McWay, in a prepared statement, says “the APM’s scope, surrounding six present and future terminals, and the construction deadlines make it too large for any one contractor.” But, he’s certainly glad that McCarthy is getting to participate and it’s contribution represents a significant portion of the APM project.