A programme to upgrade the international terminal building at Botswanas Kasane International Airport has entered its final stage, says project manager AECOM
According to Jaco Theron, resident project manager, project and construction services, AECOM, the "buildability" of a new 10,000sqm aesthetically-pleasing, climate controlled building presented "an obstacle" for the team due to the airport's remote location and the availability of material.
"Sourcing aggregates posed a particular challenge for the contractor, with some aggregates imported from neighbouring Namibia, and some trucked in from Francistown, about 500km away," AECOM said in a statement.
"In addition, the existing terminal building had to remain functional throughout construction, and also be encompassed into the new building, without demolishing any of the existing structure."
The final phase refurbishment is expected to complete by mid-2017.
AECOM claims the new terminal building was expected to be operational by the end of 2016, but African Review could not verify this with The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) at the time of writing.
The professional engineering and technical services firm has been appointed by CAAB to provide consulting and supervision services for the entire scope of the Kasane International Airport improvement project, including architecture, engineering, fire services and piping.
Construction works for the airside facilities, which completed in 2013, included renovating the two existing 120m x 30m runways to a 3,000m x 45m wide-surfaced runway, including a new apron to handle three large aircraft and several smaller carriers.
Increasing passenger numbers led to a decision to upgrade the existing 1,300sqm terminal building.
Kasane International Airport, which opened in October 1991, is situated 4km south of Kasane Town in the northwest Chobe District, approximately 1000km north of Botswana's capital Gaborone.
Serving both domestic and international traffic, the airport strategically borders Zambia to the north, Zimbabwe to the east, and Namibia to the west.
