AICM Refurbishment Will Not affect Operations, Sheinbaum Says

Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced that works to refurbish Mexico City International Airport (AICM) Terminal 2 (T2) are moving forward and will advance further without the need to stop the airport’s daily operations.

Sheinbaum explained that the refurbishment is part of the work plan commissioned by the Mexico City government, which also includes the revamping of other areas like drainage systems and further structures.

According to Sheinbaum, her administration brought in external experts in different technical engineering fields. “It was not easy to reach a solution because some options were costly, though our final solution was the most viable. First, we will repair cracks and then fix other infrastructure like the sewage that was disconnected because of the airport’s structural sinking issues. We will also fill in the land with similar material to the city’s original soil,” she explained. 

Sheinbaum explained that AICM was constructed in a sink-prone area, which has caused a misalignment between the airport and the ground. “Once the structure is separated from the ground, the structure and beams become exposed. This caused several problems like cracks that must be repaired. The terminal cannot stay this way because it could cause various kinds of risks,” Sheinbaum said. 

These complementary works resulted in cost increases for the project. According to Sheinbaum, the government estimated expenditure of MX$400 million (US$21.2 million), but this figure was increased because the drainage would result in an additional MX$70 million (US$3.7 million).

Sheinbaum stressed that the works may benefit over 46 million people as they will make AICM safer. She also promised that the structures would be revised regularly to repair any cracks forming in the future.

For ACIM’s refurbishment, the Ministry of Works and Services (SOBSE) is collaborating with UNAM’s Institute of Engineering, Grupo Alfa, CEMEX and Jaguar. According to the Minister of Works and Services, Jesús Esteva, works report a progress of 19% over a 52,000m² area to refurbish the Terminal Building and the parking space, among other areas. He also mentioned that T2’s restoration includes 21 underground surveys to determine intervention processes, carry out beam inspections, repair cracks and refill soil.