PHX Perspective

Escalator Will take You Up, Up and Away to PHX Sky Train

Travelers through PHX Sky Harbor have undoubtedly noticed many construction projects underway. One such project is the escalator replacement occurring in Terminal 4. The project involves replacing the two down escalator units at the west end of Terminal 4 as well as installing a new up escalator that, in less than three years, will accommodate PHX Sky Train™ passengers in Terminal 4. When the PHX Sky Train™ opens in early 2013, passengers picking up luggage on level one will use the new escalator to travel back up to level three, where they will catch the train.

Why the replacement of the existing escalators? Aviation Superintendent Jim Schroeder said that these units were installed in 1989 by Montgomery Elevator Company. They have run 24 hours a day, seven days a week for over 20 years and have over 175,000 hours of service. The new units are expected to be able to give 35 to 40 years of service. An interesting fact about these new escalators is that they were manufactured in Spain and are being shipped to Baltimore. From there, they will be put on a truck and driven across the country to Phoenix for installation.

Schroeder says that the new escalators have 38.3 feet of rise and will give PHX great service. “They are heavy duty transit grade that are designed for the type of traffic we see here at Sky Harbor when several planes unload at the same time,” Schroeder said.

The project, which began in May 2010, is expected to be complete in November. Schroeder said that once the work on the west end is complete and operational, contractors will move to the east end of Terminal 4 and repeat the process. ThyssenKrupp is the elevator contractor and HP is the general contractor for this project.

"This project has been very challenging due to us attempting to leave one unit running for passenger flow and removing the other unit in an open, operating airport," Schroeder said.

PHX Sky Harbor would like to thank travelers for remaining patient during this upgrade.