$54 million in new projects approved for Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
In a roughly 40-minute meeting Monday, the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport board approved $54 million in expansion projects.
Construction of a new baggage handling system, expansion of the commercial apron and a new cell phone lot will begin in early fall, according to airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo. Additional projects, including a boat and RV storage lot and expansion of the west apron, are expected to be approved in early to mid-June.
Here is a rundown of the projects, where the money is coming from and when construction will begin.
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New baggage handling system at Sarasota Bradenton Airport
By far, the most expensive project that was approved is the construction of a new baggage system. According to Piccolo, the initiative will cost $42 million.
That $42 million will be split between the Transportation Security Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation and the airport. TSA will account for approximately $23 million of the funding, with FDOT and the airport splitting the other $19 million.
Piccolo mentioned that construction of the new inline baggage system will likely begin in the fall.
"Right now ... if a machine goes down in one area, then we have to physically, by hand, move bags to another area to be screened," Piccolo said.
Once the new project is completed, "if one machine goes down, it gets diverted to the other machines automatically," said Piccolo. "So it's much more efficient, and we can clear more bags per hour, so that way, bags don't miss their flight as easily."
Terminal expansion at SRQ
A new, five-gate ground terminal on the east side of the airport is also on the horizon. The cost is $10 million, with $2.5 million coming in from a Federal Aviation Administration discretionary grant. Piccolo said that “we’re still seeking some other grant assistance” for the apron expansion, but if other grants are not secured, the airport will cover the remaining costs.
Included in the terminal construction is expansion of the apron, the parking space for airplanes and baggage handling carts on the tarmac.
Terminal expansion is currently in the design process, with construction set to start next year.
Revamped cell phone lot at SRQ
As for the cell phone lot, where people can wait to be contacted by arriving passengers for pickup, the price tag is $2 million. According to Piccolo, the lot will be funded through a consolidated facility fee paid by people renting cars at the airport.
The paved lot will include 153 spaces, flight display screens, restroom facilities, lighting and security.
More construction expected at Sarasota Bradenton Airport
Bids for other expansion projects are expected to come in next month, according to Piccolo. That includes the storage lot, expansion of the west apron and a 1,400-space parking lot on U.S. 41, near Dolphin Aviation.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 4 changes coming to Sarasota Bradenton Airport
