Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

July 22nd, 2005 -- Indianapolis - Today was the groungbreaking ceremony for the billion dollar midfield terminal that has been in the planning stages for a few decades.

Present at today's ceremony were representatives from the Indianapolis Airport Authority, representatives from representatives Lugar, Carson and Burton. Also on hand today was a representative from the FAA, the Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis and the Midfield Terminal Project Director Mr. Kish.

The weather was humid and the sky was mostly cloudy but the future for IND was clear and hot. The construction of the new Indianapolis gateway was underway.

Special thanks to the Indianapolis Airport Authority for allowing us to attend this great event today.[/url]

Attached File: IND-Groundbreaking3.JPG
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AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

I asked the project director if the terminal would open on 8/8/08 and he said that could be a possibility...the previous targeted opening date was 7/7/07

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

What are the chances that the airport will actually open on time, though? Don't big construction projects like this usually get delayed? It could be 9/9/09 before it's ready...

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AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

i think that now the construction phase has officially begun, the chances of the airport not opening on time are smaller than before, i think it will be done by 2008, maybe a couple of months late.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

I can't wait. Article in the Star today quoted some travellers as being "whimsical" about the current terminal. Another stated that the current terminal is easy to get around and the security lines aren't very long.

I say bah! to all of them. I think the current terminal is dingy and very outdated. The bathrooms are all too small, and can't ever seem to be clean enough. Light fixtures don't work. There are water stains on ceiling tiles and on the stucco-like stuff that covers the beams in the gate areas. Have you seen baggage claim 2? It looks like somebody just took a hacksaw to the ceiling grid to put in the luggage chute. This all says a lot about our city when someone visits for the first time and comes through this airport. The new terminal will be a huge boost and is long overdue!

Can I get a peanut crumb with that thimble of Coke?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I expect the same "wow" factor I got when I drove down the completed I-70 for the first time. Aerial photos don't do it justice. I expect the same thing of the renderings of the new terminal. While they are very nice looking I imagine that the feeling will be completely different the first time I drive up the new airport entrance up to the terminal and walk in to the great new building that will be massive compared to the photo. I think scale is so hard to capture in a 3d image.

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