Omaha Eppley Airfield is due to receive a US$28.3 million construction upgrade to improve the capacity, efficiency, and customer experience. The overhaul is not expected to cause disruption to the travelers coming in and leaving through the airport. The national airport recently implemented a modernization program, to improve capacity, efficiency, safety, and customer experience at the airport. Construction started this season and is projected to be completed within a year. The terminal entrance roadway expansion project will increase the length, straighten and widen the roadway that goes into the terminal and comes off of Abbott Drive.
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The expansion will include a new airport entrance about 450 meters south of the current entrance. The new entrance will have new stoplights, lighting, traffic lanes, and landscaping and will cost US$20.3 million. A US$12 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration covers a portion of the costs, and the rest of the money comes from Omaha Airport Authority revenues from the airport that provides around 90 departures a day to 33 nonstop destinations. The other project is a structural rehabilitation of the south garage costing US$8.3 million that the airport authority will pay for. The south garage restoration project will include new energy-efficient LED lighting, wider stalls, new painting inside and outside, and new signage and wayfinding to improve circulation.
“It will be noticeable when these projects are complete, the circulation, the improved entrance, the efficiency, all of those things will be great for the customer experience when they travel out of Eppley Airfield. Not only now, but for years to come. As we’ve come to realize due to the growth in passenger activity, what we need to do is make sure we’re preparing that roadway to handle additional capacity for the long term,” said Steve McCoy, chief information and development officer for Omaha Airport Authority.
To tell the truth, it is really respectful that Omaha Eppley Airfield intends to extend an airport, ensuring people safety and comfort. It indicates that they care about people and it is really valuable I think. But I can say that the sum is really impressive but without any doubts it is worth it. I really hope that such a huge significant project can improve some moments and make needful positive changes in the airport. I really like these innovations like having new landscaping and traffic lanes. Also, it is really respectful that the Federal Aviation Administration intends to cover a part of the expenses of such a significant amount of money. I agree with Steve McCoy that these changes will need to be for the long term and I really hope that the efforts will pay off.