Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is undergoing a phased expansion of its Concourse D, utilising prefabricated modules to widen the facility without interrupting daily operations.
The project aims to accommodate increasing passenger volumes at the world’s busiest airport.
Originally constructed in 1980, Concourse D’s existing corridors—approximately 5 metres wide—have been deemed too narrow to meet current passenger needs.
A joint venture between Holder, Moody, Bryson, and Sovereign is thus overseeing an upgrade project, with Mammoet providing specialised transport services.
To avoid operational disruption, modules are being delivered and installed during early morning hours each week, typically between 1 am and 4 am. The modules are moved over a distance of more than one mile using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs). During the project’s second phase, efficiency was increased by transporting two modules per week.
The heaviest module transported weighed 694.45 tonnes and was carried using 92 axle lines of SPMT. Once at the installation site, crews used 18 climbing jacks, each with a 300-tonne capacity, to lower the modules into place. This method allowed for positioning beyond the SPMTs’ standard stroke range.
The project’s offsite construction and transport approach is designed to support airport operations by reducing the need for on-site building activity and providing more predictable scheduling.
Once complete, the project will extend Concourse D by approximately 87 metres, creating additional space for passengers, retail, and aircraft accommodation.
