It was a short stay in Denver this week with Monday’s Memorial Day holiday, but I was ready to go home on Thursday nonetheless. I had to put in long hours to support the second cycle of testing the system that we are building.
As for the new train terminal and 519-room hotel construction project at Denver airport – now estimated to cost $544 million – it is 9 percent over its original $500 million budget. When additional ‘related’ costs of $128 million are added, the project is 34% over budget. The project may very well impact other capital plans at the airport, says the Denver Post. Denver winds play a role in the airport’s runway needs. When strong winds blow from the west, which is a common occurrence, only two of the six runways may be used for take-offs and landings. A seventh runway would give the airport a third east-west option. A master plan in 2011 forecast that a seventh runway would be needed as soon as 2015 to avoid flight delays. The airport capital plan listed it as a “must do” project. A year later, the runway was delayed, but the airport still budgeted $36.7 million for 2018 to begin construction.
