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Construction of
the Denver International Airport began in 1989. After numerous
construction delays, including problems with the airport's infamous
automated baggage system, the airport was finally opened in 1995.
The final cost of
the project was $5.2 billion, almost $2 billion over budget. The
numerous delays resulted in the airport opening running 16 months behind
the original schedule. In fact, the numerous delays earned DIA
(Denver International Airport) many nicknames, including "Delayed
Indefinitely Airport" and "Denver's Imaginary Airport".
Despite the
construction delays and cost overruns, the project was an impressive
engineering feat. At the height of construction, DIA employed more
than 11,000 workers.
The new airport
allows Denver to accommodate tens of millions of passengers each year.
Unlike Stapleton, the airport that it replaced, DIA was built to handle
Denver's unique weather conditions and wind patterns. The
airport's pinwheel design and location well outside the city allows for
future expansion well into the 21st century and beyond.
Fast Facts
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Completed: |
1995 |
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Construction Cost: |
$5.2 billion |
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Longest Runway: |
16,000 feet |
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Number of
Gates: |
138 |
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Height of Control Tower: |
327 feet |
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