The Vancouver Airport Authority will be terminating the CORE Program, a large infrastructure project at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), that has kept hundreds of construction workers, designers and engineers busy over the past two years.
Due to the ongoing decline of air travel caused by the pandemic, YVR no longer has the immediate need for the additional capacity in utilities or parking.
The CORE Program was designed when YVR was experiencing double digit growth and included a new central utilities building, geo-thermal heating and cooling system and a ground transportation centre including a new parkade.
The authority will focus its financial resources on projects that support the recovery and restart of aviation, including trials for health screening and testing. Additionally, the Airport Authority will improve data and technology infrastructure, enhance cargo facilities, and pursue projects that are best completed while the airport is less busy, such as airfield infrastructure.
“Cancelling this major infrastructure project was a difficult but necessary decision. We simply do not need the capacity this project brings for the foreseeable future and need to prioritize our resources elsewhere,” said Tamara Vrooman, president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority.
“I want to emphasize that making this decision is one more step in preserving the ongoing financial stability of Vancouver Airport Authority so that we can continue to serve our community and focus our resources on the immediate needs of the airport.”
Vancouver Airport Authority has a long history of planning for the future with big infrastructure projects and since 1992 has invested $4.5 billion in building and maintaining the airport. By the end of 2020, the Airport Authority will complete the $300 million Pier D International Terminal Expansion, another key project in the major capital program.
Vancouver Airport Authority and EllisDon will work together to finalize wind down arrangements with the intent that all work will be concluded on the site by November 30, 2020. The project will be halted in its current state and can be restarted when the need arises.
