Airport to break ground for terminal

Airport officials will conduct the groundbreaking ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on the west side of the airport.

The first phase of the terminal, which includes building a drainage system and other infrastructure, will be done by West Des Moines, Iowa-based McAninch Corp. for about $7.1 million. The total project cost is $119 million.

Design of the new terminal is expected to reduce walking time for passengers, as well as wait time in screening and check-in lines.

“Everything is arranged so that there’s a natural flow to the process,” said Gary Cyr, director of aviation, in a news release. “From the ticket counters, you walk directly to the security screening area. From there, you walk directly to the airplane gate area. In the current terminal, those places are spread out and disconnected.”

The new terminal also will feature curbside bag checks and more gates for airliners to park overnight.

The project will be funded by user fees, bonds and some federal funding. Through the 2006 Transportation-Treasury-Housing and Urban Development spending bill, the airport is guaranteed an annual $5 million in federal funding through 2008, and a provision tied to the 2006 bill adds another $2.87 million.

Additional federal funding may be approved in three years.