Five or six aircraft queuing along Alpha for a 26 takeoff is happening not only first thing in the morning. At the other end the queue splits at the intersection with aircraft often waiting on the bridge and by the south stands. At that point aircraft are kept on stands.
The tendering for the taxiway extension at the 08 end is finished so work should start soon on that and other apron extensions. They need to get cracking while the soil is summer dry rather than start in the wet winter months.