South African consultants Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV) and Tanzanian subconsultant Howard Humphreys have been contracted to oversee the R450-million upgrade to Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Work will start this month and is expected to be completed by early 2017 and will be funded in part by the Dutch Grant Facility for Infrastructure Development and partly by a commercial loan to the Tanzania Ministry of Finance.

RHDHV spokesperson and project manager Marcel Langeslag explains that the construction contract is the culmination of several years of preparatory work by RHDHV Group companies – its South African operation Netherlands Airport Consultants (Naco) and management consulting company InterVISTAS.

“Strong traffic growth and the mix of domestic and international flights at the airport have resulted in capacity constraints and this rehabilitation and expansion project will relieve congestion and provide capacity for future growth. It will also ensure the airport is given a makeover that will enhance the passenger experience,” he says.

Kilimanjaro International Airport saw more than 800 000 passengers and more than 20 000 air traffic movements in 2013. Overlapping peak hours for domestic and international flights have caused congestion in the terminal building and further traffic growth will put pressure on the 3 600-m-long runway.

Upgrades and expansions are required to accommodate the expected future growth in air traffic at the popular tourist destination and include the extension of a parallel taxiway to enhance runway capacity, the expansion of the apron to create more aircraft parking stands and the rehabilitation of all airside pavements.

Further, the terminal building will be reconfigured and rehabilitated by creating a central commercial lounge and separate waiting areas for domestic and international passengers.

Improved security and passport control processes to match modern international standards will be implemented, while the construction of a new roof terrace will increase the capacity of the lounge area.

Langeslag highlights that the company was appointed in 2012 to update the airport master plan, which was completed in early 2013.

“Subsequently, we were appointed for the concept and preliminary design of the rehabilitation works and the preparation of design and build tender documents. For the past three years, colleagues from our sister company InterVISTAS have supported Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company in air services development, increasing air traffic at the airport, and winning three Routes Africa Awards in the process.

“RHDHV and Naco have been involved with this project from its inception, working closely with the client and the donor organisations to get the project off the ground. We have been able to assist the airport with a range of services, including master planning, civil engineering and terminal building architecture,” explains Langeslag.

The scope of RHDHV’s oversight involves the design review of the detailed designs that will be prepared by the design and build contractor, contract administration of the design and build contract as the employer’s representative and supervision of all construction works on site.

The existing terminal building was built in 1971 and is generally in good condition.

“By rehabilitating the building, rearranging the spaces and creating a new covered roof terrace, we are able to extend the life span of the building and revitalise it. This will reduce the need for new resources and materials in construction. “The end result will relieve congestion, provide space for future growth, create new opportunities for commercial activities and greatly enhance the passenger experience at the airport,” Langeslag says. He adds that the construction will not be without challenges, as the airport has to remain operational throughout the duration of the works. This will impact on the scheduling of the works, and requires temporary provisions. “The goals are to maintain safe airport operations at all time, and to reduce the adverse impact on passengers, airlines and other stakeholders at the airport,” he says. Kilimanjaro is one of East Africa’s most popular tourist destinations, with nearby attractions, such as the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Mount Kilimanjaro.