Airport Operator Magazine - Spring
Cars are now banned from crossing the runway at Gibraltar International Airport in between flights after the long-delayed opening of a tunnel under the runway
The new tunnel for cars, motorcycles, vans and trucks finally opened on 31 March. This marked the end of a construction project that took more than 14 years to complete, with building work suspended for five years by litigation between the contractor and the Government of Gibraltar.
Pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders may still cross the Ministry of Defence-owned runway when aircraft are not taking off or landing, subject to the same security and safety measures practised previously for all the traffic that crossed.
The new tunnel route – named Kingsway in honour of King Charles III – was officially opened by Gibraltar Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, and his predecessor, Sir Peter Caruana, who had signed the original tunnel contract in 2008.