MISSOULA – Missoula International Airport will move forward to build new airport terminal after Montana’s Congressional delegation secured a very large grant from the FAA.
The delegation secured a grant worth $8.7 million from the Department of Transportation to demolish the existing terminal and construct a new airport terminal building.
Missoula International Airport Director Chris Jensen says as the Missoula airport grows, it has become more important to invest in and expand the facilities to meet the needs of the Missoula community.
Jensen tells KPAX the grant was expected from the FAA, but the amount of the grant was larger than expected, something they are very grateful for.
Jensen says the grant will allow them to move forward with the 145,000 square foot terminal project and won’t incur debt so early in the construction process.
The TSA checkpoint will move to the middle of the terminal the week of Dec. 10th. Jensen doesn’t anticipate passenger congestion saying the current layout of the airport is disjointed. By moving the checkpoint to the middle of the terminal will make security front and center and will be better for the customer.
Demolition will start after the holidays around the first of the year 2019. The construction is slated to be complete mid to late 2021.
The total cost of the project is $67 million. It will be funded with federal grants, the airports own resources and money, passenger facility charges, and debt the airport will acquire.
Jensen reiterates no property or local taxes will be used for the airport construction project. He said he’s very pleased with the support the airport has received from Sen. Jon Tester, Sen. Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte, saying they all had a role in helping secure the federal grants.
You can click here to view artist renderings of the new terminal.
