The gateway to Melbourne Airport will experience its most significant transformation in more than half a century when new drop-off and pick-up zones open on October 6.
The new free facilities split departures and arrivals between two levels of the airport’s existing multi-level car park, where passengers would be able to walk to and from terminals via a 19-metre wide pedestrian bridge.
From October 6, motorists on the Tullamarine Freeway would take a new and earlier exit to the airport on to Naarm Way, which turns into an elevated road that sweeps above existing departure lanes and connects directly to the terminal 1, 2 and 3 car park.
Those who are leaving their car at that car park can continue to use the existing departures drive.
Motorists delivering friends or family at the airport would drive along Naarm Way and head to the new drop off point on level 3.
When picking those passengers up, motorists would head to level 2, where more than 100 car spaces have been built, and where loved ones could wait for their ride close to toilets and under shelter.
An existing 60-minute free wait zone, located off Mercer Drive, will continue to operate.
Changes to drop off and pick up zones mean cars no longer have to stop at multiple pedestrian crossings, and allows the airport to close the existing forecourt carparking.
This will pave the way for $4.5bn of major projects set to expand the international terminal and cater to rapid growth.
Melbourne Airport chief executive, Lorie Argus, said October 6 would bring with it “the biggest change to the airport’s road network since it opened in 1970”.
“With more than 100,000 people using Melbourne Airport every day and annual passenger numbers predicted to reach 75 million people by 2047, we need to expand our precinct,” she said.
“This is an exciting change, but it’s also a big change and we know it will take people time to get used to it, so we’ll have plenty of staff on hand to help support drivers and passengers. “The new Pick up and Drop off zones will separate private and commercial vehicles, provide drivers with more space and give our passengers comfortable places to wait away from Melbourne’s unpredictable weather.”
Ms Argus said that a partnership with Travellers Aid meant a free “Melbourne Airport Assist” service will be extended to help passengers moving about the precinct.
There is also an online journey planner at the Melbourne Airport web page to help people visualise their trip from the Tulla Fwy or Sunbury Rd.
The $500 million Naarm Way project was built in two stages, with the first opening in 2023 to provide a direct connection from the freeway to the Terminal 4 precinct, where travellers fly with airlines such as Jetstar and Rex.