The Bangor Worldwide Airport will use $14.2 million in federal funding it obtained Thursday to broaden its safety screening space, substitute a connector between its two terminal buildings and improve its growing older HVAC system.
The cash will come from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package deal that Congress handed late final fall, in accordance with Sen. Susan Collins’ workplace.
The airport doesn’t have a tentative timeline of when that work will probably be accomplished because it nonetheless must put the work out to bid, however airport spokesperson Aimee Thibodeau stated the development will probably be scheduled to reduce the influence on passengers and airport operations.
“Not solely will it permit us to convey the passenger expertise to the subsequent stage, however it additionally permits us to switch and modernize crucial parts of our growing older infrastructure, enhance power effectivity, and alleviate some areas of congestion throughout peak journey instances when passenger numbers are at their highest,” Thibodeau stated.
Information of the enhancements is coming because the airport prepares to repave its whole, 11,000-foot runway beginning subsequent summer time as a part of a $28 million challenge that’s anticipated to have an effect on passenger site visitors.
The up to date connector between the home and worldwide terminals will enhance entry to gates in each terminals, enhance capability and suppleness for air carriers and supply alternatives to spice up flight service.
Although the airport doesn’t presently have any worldwide passenger flights, the worldwide terminal is used for navy operations and as a refueling vacation spot for worldwide flights on their method into or out of the U.S. The airport’s giant runway and site additionally make it a typical cease for diverted planes.
The funding will even cowl the alternative of a ground-level boarding gate with a brand new gate and jet bridge, eliminating floor boarding operations to satisfy People with Disabilities Act necessities.
“This renovation and enlargement will permit us to offer even larger customer support to passengers, but additionally permit us to be a greater environmental steward by enhancing the effectivity of growing older utilities,” Bangor Worldwide Airport Director Tony Caruso stated.
Previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, practically 600,000 vacationers handed by means of the Bangor airport every year, in accordance with Thibodeau. Final 12 months, the airport noticed about 585,000 vacationers.
The $14.2 million the Bangor airport obtained is a portion of the $5 billion in grant funding that the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act approved for the Federal Aviation Administration, in accordance with Collins’ workplace. Collins was considered one of 10 senators who led negotiations on the laws with the Biden administration.
The funding, awarded by means of aggressive grants, is for initiatives that tackle growing older infrastructure in airport terminals within the U.S., in accordance with the FAA’s web site.
“Bangor Worldwide Airport is an financial powerhouse that serves as a key gateway for guests to Maine and connects the Bangor area to the world,” Collins stated. “The upgrades and expansions that this funding will help will improve passengers’ total expertise and permit the airport to develop its operations.
