Thu, Aug 18, 2011
Projects Set To Begin Next Year Total About $200 Million
The 26-year-old Charleston International Airport is showing
its age, and is not large enough to handle the passenger traffic
moving through the region. That is the assessment of airport
officials who are planning a three-year $200 million upgrade to the
facility which was designed when terrorists were in far-away
countries and there was a major military presence in the
region.
But in some ways, the airport is larger than it needs to be. The
Charleston Post and Courier reports that the airport has
what were VIP lounges at the ends of its concourses which are now
unused in the post-9/11 era. And a sprawling inspection station
where U.S. service personnel once checked in is also largely idle.
But flights are increasing, security lines are long, and parking is
sometimes scarce, say airport officials. Airport spokesperson Becky
Beaman described the situation as "big time growing pains."
So, a major renovation is planned for the airport. The main
terminal is scheduled to be expanded by more than 25 percent, both
passenger concourses will be extended, parking increased, an
additional baggage carousel will be installed, and retail vendors
beyond the security checkpoints will be expanded.
In addition, more passenger screening lanes will be built in the
largely idle federal inspection station, and baggage screening will
be expanded. Director of Airports Sue Stevens said "if you built
this terminal today, you wouldn't build it like this" in part
because passengers now spend significantly more time post-security
than in the main part of the terminal.
Outside the structure, the aircraft parking apron is slated for
expansion giving aircraft more room to maneuver, and the U.S. Air
Force, which actually owns the runways and shares them with the
civilian airport authority, plans to rip out and re-pave the 9,000
foot main runway, putting it out of commission for about nine
months. The shorter secondary runway will be pressed into service
to handle all flights while that project is underway.
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