Melbourne Airport is moving ahead with plans to build a new north-south runway to ensure the airport has the capacity to keep serving Victoria for decades to come.
The airport currently operates two intersecting runways. As the aviation industry has evolved, parallel runway operations have become the preferred option for safety, efficiency and operability. Melbourne is one of the busiest airports in the world without a parallel runway system.
The M3R project, which is currently progressing through the approvals process, comprises a new runway (parallel to the existing north-south oriented runway), modification of the existing east-west runway, extensive construction and modification of taxiways, and the associated support infrastructure.
Donald Cant Watts Corke has been appointed as the External Project Manager on Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway (M3R) project, after our successful partnership providing project management services across their landside, terminal and airside precincts including Terminal 4 and the Terminal 4 Carpark, Foxtrot Apron Infill, Alpha Apron South, AGL Upgrade Project and Taxiway Zulu.
The M3R project scope encompasses:
The project will create 37,000 additional jobs in Victoria, with the new runway capacity allowing an additional 23 million passengers a year by 2046 (20 years after opening) and an additional 136,500 aircraft movements a year. This represents 40 percent more passengers and 43 percent more aircraft movements.
Long-term development plans for Melbourne Airport have included a four-runway configuration since the 1960s. The need for development of a third runway was detailed in the 2013 Melbourne Airport Master Plan and reaffirmed in the 2018 Melbourne Airport Master Plan. It remains the intention that a fourth runway will be developed in the future as demand necessitates.
The M3R Major Development Plan and Melbourne Airport’s 2022 Master Plan are published HERE.
Photo: Melbourne Airport