The Eugene Airport is expanding. Construction starts this week but officials say it won’t impact customers.
The renovation is expected to be completed in early 2017. Airport Director Tim Doll says passenger numbers are up nearly 20 percent over four years. He hopes the changes will relieve some congestion inside the terminal:
Doll: “The security checkpoint is a choke point for traffic right now. You can come in here at peak times and see the line going clear down past our rental car agencies down to our baggage claim area.”
Security screening will move back to the current B-gate hold area, and the escalators will move farther west. The project will also add a second baggage claim belt. Doll says construction trailers are already on-site:
Doll: “We’re looking at hardly any inconvenience at all to the passengers. They’ll notice construction walls, there may be some construction noise. But we still should be able to accommodate passenger traffic throughout the terminal building in a friendly and convenient manner.”
The upgrade is projected to cost $16.8 million. It will be paid for with federal funds and passenger service fees.
