Nov. 8—ALBANY — The expected look of the $100 million upgrade to Albany International Airport is coming into focus as officials wrap up their work on a broader plan that seeks to modernize the Colonie facility over the next two decades.
A draft master plan, released earlier this month, is set to be presented on Wednesday in Colonie at the final public meeting for the development of the guiding document.
Plans to expand the airport, with the support of a $60 million state grant, come as officials anticipate at least 2 million passengers coming through the Colonie airport by 2041. That figure would more than double the traffic seen at the airport in 2021.
The governor's office released footage of how the new pedestrian bridge will look when construction is completed, which is scheduled for early 2025.
A two-minute video shows viewers a space in the glass facade to the bridge, which sits above where vehicles can drive to drop off passengers and currently connects the parking garage to the airport.
"The enhancements underway at Albany International Airport will create a more pleasurable experience for travelers as they go about their journeys," said state Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.
Up an escalator, travelers arrive at the passenger bridge, where they can grab a beverage at a Dunkin' or go through an updated security checkpoint. It is unclear if the Dunkin' is definitely going to be in the space that is being developed into a new waiting area for passengers.
The draft master plan reflects issues with the current security check station on the second floor of the airport. The main issues are around its ability to handle the expected increases in number of passengers.
"While this location reduces average walking distances and eases wayfinding, the checkpoint does have several significant concerns," the master plan said. The plan is a dense 228-page document that delves into every aspect of the airport.
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The $100 million renovation is expected to resolve some of the concerns over the capacity the security station can handle.
"While the airport is vibrant and growing, it was built long before modern TSA security screening, and for years has been in desperate need of expansion," U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said in August.
The immediate airport renovations, which include a $40 million federal grant, are expected to be completed with union labor.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has called the work "transformational" and who is the first New York governor from upstate in a century, has offered her full support behind smaller airports. Her administration has dedicated $230 million toward improving eight upstate airports.
"Airports are gateways to their local communities and important economic engines for upstate New York," Hochul said in a statement Wednesday. "We are doing all we can to ensure they are ready for the challenges of the 21st century."
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