The works have been awarded to contractor Fahmi Karagulla ( value of contract $60 million) and (German-Lebanese) Hoktef - C.C.C (Contract value $390 million). The project is financed by Arab and international loans of which $100 million from the European Bank for Investment and $50 million from the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development have already been made available. Lebanon's Council for Development and Constructions expected to pursue negotiations with Arab and International circles for providing additional financing.

Payment for completed work will be made by payments from a special fund made up of airport taxes and fees. Airport revenues are expected to increase with the development of air travel and the increase of passengers. Surveys published by the Research and Studies Department of Civil Aviation show that the highest returns reached during 1994 came from the movement of foods which increased by 18.59 percent in comparison to 1993. Statistics showed that the number of take-offs and landing rose to 19,045 , an increase of 14.86 percent over the previous year's total of 16,581 and that the growth in passenger numbers reached 11.13 percent in 1993. Total number of passengers was 1,489,429 including the 51,131 transit passengers. Air freight of exports and imports through the airport rose to 54,007 tons. an increase of 18.59 percent over 1993's 45,539 tons.

The Karagulla contract:

The first contract includes the construction of new eastern runway within three years as of November 1993 at cost of $60 million. The runway will be 3,800 meters long and 45 meters wide with two asphalt sides of 7,5 meters width each. Thus, the total width will be 60 meters.Work on this part began and will include the diversion of AL Ghadir river and the building of huge installations on Al Qassis Canal used for draining rain water from Southern Suburb. Work on this part will be completed before the completion of the eastern runway.

The Hoktef - C.C.C Contract:

The German - Lebanese Group contract includes the largest part of the airport project. Starting the actual work required a preparatory period which extended for a number of months for the building of a center for representatives of the consultants , officials from the Civil Aviation Directorate and the Council for Development and Reconstruction as well as the preparation of Ouzai port to store the necessary demolishing material and equipment. The project also required the appropriations of around 800,000 meters costing $160 million.

Stages of Execution.

The Second contract includes the construction of a new 3,400 meter long western runway and a width of 60 meters , 45 meters of cement with two asphalt sides of 7.5 meters width each. The runway will be 1,900 meters long into the sea with a 2500 meter protection pier. Works on this port will continue for four years and cost $180 million. The project will also modify the airport terminal building to utilize additional areas for commercial purposes for the generation of additional revenues. The consultants , Dar Al Handasa, included these modifications to meet future needs.

The terminal building costs of $116 million include the construction of a new building complementary to the existing one to bring up the total area from 23,000 to 94,000 square meters. The ground floor of the existing terminal building is 25,000 square meters and is used for arrivals and the first floor , with an area of 37,000 square meters , caters to departures. Eight other floors with different areas provide space for the different passengers services.

The project also includes the rehabilitation of six buildings , the construction of two new ones for private aviation and one for important visitors. Work on this part of the project will begin first due to the urgent need for these buildings.

The buildings to be rehabilitated are :

• Public services, electric generation and air-conditioning buildings with a combined area of 5,400 square meters
• 5,500 square meter aviation safety center
• The civil aviation workshop and garage building within an area of 3,400 square meters
• 630 square meter fire fighting training center
• 670 square meter customs and the freight building
• 10,000 square meter catering building.

The new buildings are:

• A private aviation building with an area of 2,800 square meters.
• The VIP building, 1650 square meters
• A building with a parking capacity of 2,200 cars with an area of 46,000 square meters
• A 20,000 square meter building for sorting mail.

Ouzai - Costa Brave deviation :

Ouzai - Costa Brava deviation is included in the airport project. It consists of two tunnels within the airport and into the sea towards Khalde diverting the road to the area outside the airport compound.. The deviation will extend parallel to the Coral Beach Hotel until the Khalde intersection. A 1,450 meter long bridge will be constructed to bypass the hotels and beaches in the area, continuing to Ouzia Port along the sea.

The deviation will extend alongside the new sea runway and enter the airport premises. Two 400 meter tunnels each will pass under the runways to reach Costa Brava Hotel and on to Khalde intersection. A part will extend into the sea and a new intersection on the present Khalde highway. The costs of this project are $63 million. The Costa Brava deviation , costing $8 million will also be included in the project and its execution will be in the first phase because it is linked with the construction of the eastern runway.

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