Terminal 5 Passenger Boarding Bridge Replacement at O’Hare International Airport

JWI serves as Owner’s Representative and Construction Manager for the extensive Passenger Boarding Bridge Replacement project at O’Hare International Airport’s (ORD) Terminal 5. This project involves the replacement of existing 26-year-old passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) that are past their useful life span while also enabling further construction work for the expansion of T5. JWI has completed and commissioned over a dozen bridges, with ten on-site ready to install.

Our team oversees the design, manufacturing, delivery, installation, and commissioning of these new PBBs, the replacement of existing bridges, the installation of 14 sets of new ground power units, pre-conditioned air units, and portable water cabinets, as well as the installation of temporarily fixed walkways and boarding bridges to accommodate construction activities for the terminal’s expansion.

Custom-made GPU transformers were brought in from Germany to remedy issues with T5’s exiting power output to each Ground Power Unit. We’ve also custom-modified the M12 walkway, revised the length of a future Delta walkway to make more room for GSE maneuvering, and set up our first dual gate to handle everything from Regional jets (EMB-145) to the giant wide-body airplanes (747, 777 and including the A380).

Strict scheduling and deadlines due to airline demand have been required, as well as coordination with other major enabling projects and close coordination with stakeholders. The team holds weekly logistics and design meetings with numerous stakeholders, including our client, several manufacturers, and the Chicago Department of Aviation, to name a very few. Significant issues surrounding the manufacturing of walkways and their delivery from Mexico also arose due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. However, JWI meets and manages these project challenges head-on, with the flexibility and creative thinking our team is known for. The project is on time and budget, with construction scheduled for 2023 as more bridges arrive from overseas.