Travel has changed a lot in the year 2020. Many people’s travel plans have been either rescheduled or canceled altogether. Although people are not traveling as frequently as they used to, it’s important that airport construction continues in order to prepare for the future.
In the airport industry, there are many exciting new construction projects that are planned to break ground in the coming months. These projects truly showcase how planning ahead, working through hardships, and adapting to changes can really pave the way to a newer and brighter future.
Below, we have curated a list of exciting new airport projects that are debuting in the near future. Here are six airport projects that you can look forward to soon.
Chattanooga Airport in Tennessee is taking advantage of a decrease in foot traffic in order to get ahead of projects and improve the airport. Among some of the projects is a $25 million parking garage outside the terminal, which will be the airport's first such structure. They have also started work on a new $4 million general aviation hangar that's slated to be finished by the end of 2020.
Amongst the changes in the airport industry, Denver city council signed off on airport officials’ proposal to spend up to $560 million more on DIA’s existing concourse expansion projects. Started in 2018, the $1.5 billion program is adding 39 new gates to the airport. Other work includes, potential upgrades of restrooms, moving walkways, ramps, and outdoor gate-apron areas that have aged since the airport’s 1995 opening. Expected completion for these projects are pegged for 2022.
LaGuardia Airport’s $4 billion Terminal B project was completed earlier this year and is part of an $8 billion plan to revamp this New York airport. LaGuardia airport handles about 30 million passengers each year, and serves as a hub for many American airlines. The airport is also expected to complete its $3.5 billion Delta Air Lines terminal sooner than its original 2026 deadline. Due to the drop in demand, Delta is able accelerate some of the construction.
Early demolition is planned to take place as part of a $4.1 billion replacement project. This project includes a vastly expanded Sky Club requested by Delta Air Lines, larger areas for customs in order to handle more international flights, as well as higher tech equipment to speed up security screening. Due to a drop in foot traffic, the project is expected to be completed up to two years faster and $300 million cheaper.
There are plans for San Diego International Airport to improve it’s 60’s era Terminal 1. The airport will be adding 11 new gates to the current 19 gates, bringing a total of 30 gates. They will also include more gate-area seating, restaurants, shops, and additional security checkpoints with more lanes and a host of energy-efficiency upgrades. Despite the drop in foot traffic this year, plans for these upgrades have not changed and will continue to move forward.
Seattle is accelerating work on a building expansion project at Seattle-Tacoma airport. This $340 million project has plans for new dining and retail spaces, leasable office space, and a new premium passenger lounge. This project will add about four floors, roughly about 27,000 square feet each. Even with the existing reduction in travel, the port says that it makes sense to move forward with the project as it is still expected to be completed several years out.
As you can see, there is so much to look forward to in the future of airport construction. Regardless of any bumps in the road, projects are able to continue their progress and plan for a brighter future. Airports are able to expand and improve their locations with the hope that things will improve in the long run.
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