Fast growing Rickenbacker Airport to expand with intermodal terminal
Back in April we linked to an article from Aviation Now that described the changing landscape of air cargo as the development of “inland ports” and the rise of smaller, specialized airports that cater to cargo gain prominence in the industry.
One of the airports mentioned in the Aviation Now article was Ohio’s Rickenbacker Airport, which just so happened to make Air Cargo World’s top 20 fastest growing cargo airports at number 17 with +15.3% growth.
Now Rickenbacker is expanding its services and growth with the development of an intermodal terminal with Norfolk Southern that will link intermodal shipments with the cargo airport:
The project will be “a major piece of infrastructure to help move goods and freight in and out of the Rickenbacker area,” Columbus Airport Authority President and Chief Executive Elaine Roberts said.
The authority, Norfolk Southern and sever- al government entities have been planning the terminal for years. Savko & Sons Vice President Marty Savko said he expects his company to begin site work soon and have the project completed by the end of 2007.
The terminal won’t be like an airport terminal. There will be only one small maintenance building and a structure for guards to check incoming and outgoing freight.
The terminal will more closely resemble an airport runway. It will be a massive expanse of concrete and asphalt where trucks and trains will meet and exchange shipping containers.
“The intermodal terminal is probably best described as a very, very large concrete parking lot,” said Bob Tanner, the authority’s general counsel.
Savko & Sons will lay more than 340,000 square yards of roller-compacted concrete, enough to cover nearly 71 acres. This heavy-duty application is similar to asphalt paving and was requested by Norfolk Southern and the Federal Highway Administration.
Look for Rickenbacker Airport in next year’s list of fastest growing airports. I have a feeling they will still be in the list.
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