Mayo engineering firm jointly awarded €265m contract for Dublin Airport underpass
A Mayo-based contractor has been awarded a joint contract for the construction of a new underpass at Dublin Airport.
Wills Bros Ltd, a family-run civil engineering company based in Foxford, has been jointly awarded the project alongside Sacyr Ireland Ltd.
The €265 million contract, awarded under the Airfield and Landside Civil Works Framework, will see the construction of the West Apron Vehicle Underpass at Dublin Airport. It is a key element in the airport's long-term infrastructure strategy.
The project is due to be completed by August 2030 and will see the construction of a 1.1km subterranean twin-cell tunnel connecting Pier Three at Dublin Airport to the West Apron.
The underpass will pass beneath key operational areas, including the Cross Runway (16/34) at Dublin Airport and four taxiways.
The underpass will provide a dedicated, segregated route for airside vehicles, including cargo operators, fuel bowsers, tugs, loaders, steps, and catering trucks, between the remote West Apron and the Eastern Campus, where most airport services and facilities are located.
DAA, the operator of Dublin Airport, announced the awarding of the contract and said it marks a significant milestone in the airport's long-term infrastructure development strategy.
Aidan McCaul, the contract director at Wills Bros, said the company was "delighted to be awarded this critical project for the DAA."
"As a family-run business with over 53 years of experience, our self-delivery model has enabled us to consistently deliver large and complex civil engineering projects across Ireland.
"With a dedicated office in the Dublin region, we're proud to bring our proven capability and commitment to excellence to this important development for DAA."
The opening of the new North Runway at Dublin Airport in August 2022 made the need for an underpass increasingly urgent.
As Runway 16/34 now serves as a primary taxiway, the Irish Aviation Authority confirmed that apron vehicles could no longer cross the area.
Without the underpass, vehicles would be forced to take long and inefficient detours, affecting time-critical operations such as cargo handling and general aviation.
To address this, Dublin Airport is developing a twin-cell design that will ensure operational resilience by keeping one lane open in the event of maintenance or an incident in the other.
The project also includes the reconfiguration of 23,700 square metres of the airport to accommodate layout changes and associated infrastructure works.
Dublin Airport said the investment underscores DAA's commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards while supporting future growth at the airport.
The underpass will support Dublin Airport's expansion towards a capacity of 40 million passengers annually and help accommodate the continued expansion of cargo and contingency operations on the West Apron.
Construction will be carried out using cut-and-cover techniques, with a complete traffic management plan in place to minimise disruption to airport operations and the local community.
Kenny Jacobs, DAA's CEO, highlighted that the underpass "is about keeping people safe, and keeping the airport moving".
He added: "It's a critical piece of infrastructure that'll make a big difference - cutting travel times, boosting efficiency, and future-proofing the place as we grow. It's the right project, at the right time, with the right team to deliver it."
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.