McCarran's T3 reaches halfway

A tour of Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport's under-construction Terminal 3 (T3) this week by Nevada's Democratic senator Harry Reid marked the halfway point of the US$ 2.4 billion project.

Construction of the 14-gate T3 has been divided into six "major elements." At present its foundations and utility corridors are finished, the central utility plant is nearly complete, the interior fit out of the main terminal building is underway and a series of new roads giving access to the terminal is more than 60% complete.

An eight-level parking garage is also nearing its halfway point, and construction of the aircraft apron is in its early phases. A solar power array will eventually be installed on top of the parking garage roof.

Perini Corporation subsidiary Perini Building Company won the US$ 1.2 billion contract to construct T3's main building in July 2008 with construction starting in August.

Started in 2008 and due for completion in 2012 the new 174000 m² terminal is part of a US$ 4 billion expansion plan that started with the adoption of a master plan in 2008.

About 1800 workers were on site when construction reached its peak in December 2009.