With the National Day holiday approaching, Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport is experiencing a travel peak, and the question of when Phase II will be completed and put into operation has once again become a hot topic of discussion.

What does the new airport look like, and what new functions will it offer in the future? A reporter visited the airport to gain an in-depth understanding of the construction progress of the terminal area, runway, and surrounding supporting facilities.

Heading north from Terminal 1, the completed Terminal 2, shaped like a "flying crane," has been fully unveiled for the first time, and its soaring architectural silhouette has already become a new landmark along the air route.

"At present, the civil engineering work of the terminal building has been basically completed, the decoration work is 90% complete, the mechanical and electrical installation work is 98% complete, various commissioning is underway, and the outdoor supporting works are 85% complete, with completion acceptance planned by the end of this year," said Ding Jiawei, project manager of the Yangzhou Taizhou Airport project under China Construction Eighth Engineering Division.

The main structure is divided into three floors. The top third floor, where passengers first arrive, is the domestic departure level, including two check-in islands, 16 security check channels, and two VIP lounge areas.

Entering the interior of the main structure, a grand diamond-shaped hollow "cloud ceiling" design immediately catches the eye. Security screening equipment and conveyor equipment have gradually been brought in, while construction workers are making final touches to interior glass installation and other decoration details. At a glance, a brand-new airport has already taken shape.

"Terminal 2 has a total floor area of about 100,000 square meters, including one above-ground floor. Relying on a 750-meter common trench, pipelines for water, electricity, and air conditioning are all delivered into the terminal through the common trench, which saves above-ground space," Ding Jiawei said.

The first floor mainly includes the baggage sorting hall, baggage claim hall, and welcome hall in the center, while the east concourse is mainly for domestic remote stands and the TOC, and the north and south concourses are mainly for VIP lounges, study tour areas, and airport office space.

The second floor, a mixed-flow level, is the first airport in the central Jiangsu region with a two-way passenger convergence design. Departing and arriving passengers both converge on this floor, greatly saving space and improving space utilization. In the middle, commercial areas, dining areas, and cultural and creative blocks are arranged, while 21 fixed boarding bridges are distributed across the east, south, and north concourses to facilitate convenient boarding for passengers.

As an important part of the main Phase II construction, the airport runway has always been a key focus of attention.

"Phase II includes the construction of a new 3,200-meter parallel taxiway and 36 new passenger and cargo aircraft stands. The runway, taxiway, and apron areas have all been completed and are in place," Ding Jiawei said. Terminal 2 has a total floor area three times that of the existing terminal and is designed for an annual passenger throughput capacity of 10 million.

As an important component of the Yangtze River Delta airport cluster, the Phase II project of Yangzhou Taizhou Airport involves a total investment of about 5.6 billion yuan. While ensuring continued safe airport operations, the project adopts a "construction without suspending flights" model, achieving orderly parallel operation and construction through zoned operations and precise scheduling.

At the site, the road connecting the Phase I and Phase II main terminal buildings has been completed and paved with asphalt. Guide signs for the pickup parking lot and social vehicle drop-off area have been put up. As supporting auxiliary facilities, the Yangtze River Delta Tourist Distribution Center and the GTC project, built in sync with Terminal 2 beneath the road, are also ready for use.

"This is a major highlight of the Phase II construction of Yangzhou Taizhou Airport. The GTC is a brand-new transportation hub that helps passengers reach destinations across both cities directly," said the on-site person in charge.

The Yangtze River Delta Tourist Distribution Center and GTC project has a floor area of 34,000 square meters and includes the Yangtze River Delta Tourist Distribution Center, transfer center, long-distance bus station, airport bus station, and GTC parking building. A total of 602 parking spaces are provided, including 207 underground parking spaces, 185 spaces on the first above-ground floor, and 210 spaces on the roof level. The ride-hailing pickup point and charging spaces are located on the roof level. The garage entrance and exit layout is two entrances and three exits, with two internal circulation lanes.

"The GTC project has now been completed and is awaiting acceptance. It can be put into use simultaneously with the terminal building," said the on-site person in charge. The transfer center is equipped with multiple escalators and elevators to ensure passenger movement.

In the future, passengers can reach the transfer center from the third floor of the terminal through a no-baggage passage, or travel between the GTC transfer center and the terminal via an underground transportation corridor. Through the transfer center, passengers can choose suitable and efficient transportation options.

The Phase II project of Yangzhou Taizhou Airport is progressing vigorously and will be fully completed by the end of the year. After passing acceptance and being officially put into use, it will be able to support an annual passenger throughput of 10 million and a cargo and mail throughput of 100,000 tons, marking a leap in comprehensive support capacity from the "million level" to the "ten-million level."