b'8 BLV TERMINALSFACTS&FIGURES Project: Terminal Expansion MidAmerica Airport Expands, & RenovationLocation: MidAmerica St. Louis AirportRenovates to Meet Passenger Owner: St. Clair County, ILNew Space: 42,000 sq. ft. Growth BY JODI RICHARDS Renovated Space: 53,500 sq. ft.Cost: $34 million Big things are happening in theaccepted a position as executive director Funding: $31 million in federal & state FAA grants; $3middle of the United States. Thisof the Johnson County Airport Commission million from St. Clair County summer, MidAmerica St. Louisin Kansas. Construction: Dec. 2019-June 2023 Airport (BLV) in Mascoutah, IL, celebratedPassenger traffic at BLV has been Master Plan Consultant: Crawford, Murphy & Tilly the grand opening of its newly expanded andgrowing steadily, even setting records Architecture, Structures, Interior Design: HOK renovated terminal. The $34 million projectin 2021 and 2022 amid the COVID-19 added 42,000 square feet, nearly doubling thepandemic. Allegiant Air is currently the Civil Site Design: Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Engineering terminal size to help respond to tremendous Construction Manager at Risk: Holland Constructionpassenger growth in recent years.airports sole carrier, but officials expect to attract other low-cost carriers soon. Operational Readiness Team: Axis ORAT The Southern Illinois airport also serves The airports strong local passenger Consulting Engineer: VoltAir a healthy volume of military traffic. Ownedbase and parallel runways, which allow IT & Security: Faith Group by St. Clair County and shared by Scott Airfor simultaneous takeoffs and landings, Baggage Handling System: BNP Force Base, BLV is one of only 21 joint-useare key selling points as the airport seeks Cost Estimating: Connico airports in the United States. to add service. That really plays well for Signage: Kuhlmann-Leavitt Airport Directorthe airport when I visit with air carriers and Vertical Circulation: Lerch-Bates Bryan Johnsonother aerospace industry leaders as they says the four-yearlook to develop business here, Johnson Exit Lane Breach Control: Dormakaba expansion project thatnotes. Its been a big driver for us, Baggage Handling System: DCI is nearly completeespecially in the last two or three years. Boarding Bridges: TK Airport Solutions matches the regionsAdditionally, a new 3,100-foot taxiway Furniture: Airport Seating Alliance; Grand Rapids Chair;economy. Adjacent tobetween the future aviation development Martin Brattrud the airport, Boeing isBRYAN JOHNSON (Boeing) and BLVs runways was recently Signage: Ace Sign constructing a navalcompleted for $37.7 million. Elevators/Escalators: Schindler drone production facility, and a 5.5-mileJohnson describes BLV as an ultra-extension of MetroLink will connect Scottlow cost carrier airport that nicely fits a Food & Beverage Vendor: Tailwind Hospitality Inc. Air Force Base to BLV, creating a direct line Key Benefits: More terminal space to accommodateto St. Louis Lambert International (STL) inlocal niche. We focus on operating very increasing passenger volume & TSA screening requirements;efficiently and effectively, he says. Here 2025. That will be a significant year forin the St. Louis metro area, theres a improved passenger amenities; meeting Americans withthe airport, says Johnson, who recently Disabilities Act requirements tremendous interest in the leisure market, November | December 2023AirportImprovement.com'