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Pittsburgh Airport Shrinkage Spurs Substantial Construction Project

9/20/2017 | Construction Blog

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Pittsburgh International Airport will receive a $1.1 Billion facelift, ironically spurred by a downsizing of the airport facility.

The consolidation of U.S. Airways, a major tenant at the airport, with American Airlines resulted in a substantial reduction in capacity at the airport over the last several years. A 600 person operation center at the airport was closed, as were other facilities.

The plan recently unveiled is essentially a makeover for a terminal opened as a US Airways hub in 1992, but which now serves only ½ the traffic it once did. The project includes a new building for ticketing and security, a new parking garage and a streamlined boarding facility. Under the proposed modernization, the current landside building would be abandoned, the tram that hauls people from it to the X-shaped boarding facility, or airside, terminated, and the number of gates will be reduced to 51 from 75.

Constructed in their place will be a $783.8 million landside building located between airside’s C and D concourses with new security and baggage facilities, a reconfigured international arrivals area, a 3,000-space parking garage, and other features designed focused on the needs of modern travelers.

The Post-Gazette also reports that private developers have expressed interest in commercial development of vacant space at the airport for tenants interested in locating their businesses near the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration would likely have to approve any redevelopment of the vacant airport space.

Andrew B. Cohn can be reached by email at acohn@kaplaw.com or via phone at 610-941-2549.