Company Announcement - GIBB Engineering, South Africa’s leading black-owned engineering consulting firm, recently completed a feasibility study to evaluate and investigate the construction and operational feasibility of connecting the existing Western Precinct to Midfield Development at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The study, which started in January 2015, cemented the agreement between GIBB and Airports Company of South Africa.

The research, headed up by GIBB’s Associate Engineer for Dams, Hydropower and Underground Works, Monique Wainstein, in collaboration with Sumeshin Naidoo, Business Development Manager in GIBB’s Transportation Sector, developed a three-phased approach which will invariably lead to the airport being divided across the two major terminal precincts by an underground tunnel. The tunnel aims to bridge the geographical gap between the aircraft stands and the cargo/terminal buildings.

GIBB saw a clear need for connecting these precincts and this particular study focuses on:
• Airside transportation connectivity, for the transportation of bags, airside passengers, freight and general airside support vehicles;
• Airside technical operational connectivity, for general airport operational access such as fire and rescue, marshalling, and security patrolling;
• Bulk services connectivity, which could potentially include, but is not limited to data links, electrical supply, water supply, and fuel supply.


“The tunnel connectivity is key to the future master planning and infrastructure development of the airport. The tunnel will enable the linking of the current Western Precinct (existing terminal and associated aprons) to the new future cargo and new mid-field terminal developments. This linkage, once fully constructed and operational, will provide access to shorter connection times of people, baggage and services within the current infrastructure and future airside developments. Passengers will experience seamless travel between terminals and between airline partners without fully understanding the complex operations behind the scenes that will be taking place to ensure that their travel demands are met,” commented Naidoo.

“In addition, aviation service providers (baggage handlers, fuel re-fuellers, marshallers) will benefit from having shorter distance and travel times to get to servicing aircraft.  Airlines will be able to improve aircraft connection times and ensure that aircraft can spend more time in-flight than waiting on the ground to be serviced and/or filled up with passengers. This project, if it proceeds to construction, will support ACSA’s initiatives to reduce their carbon emissions and carbon footprint,” he added. The scope of work defined in Phase 3 of the study evaluates the tunnel connectivity time and a possible route between the two terminals, an overall assessment on the closure of aircraft facilities during the construction, the cost implications, the duration of the project, the advantages of the new connecting tunnel and the viable tunnel and road connector assess points.

GIBB is proud to have been selected as the preferred engineering consulting firm to carry out the feasibility study. GIBB’s dedicated in-house Transportation; Dams, Hydropower and Underground Works; and Environmental sectors have come together to deliver this highly specialised project.  This ensured that ACSA received a cost-effective solution that meets the latest international best practice.  GIBB, over the years, has worked on key projects at major airports on the continent and has developed good understanding of clients’ needs within the aviation industry.

ACSA, and other airports companies on the continent, can be assured that GIBB has the aviation and engineering competency to service their organisations. All designs, specialist studies and test drilling was done by local South African specialists and GIBB sought international experts to review their designs.