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.

FMI: www.chs-airport.com