Long Beach Airport is set to get a major facelift after the city council voted in favor of undertaking a phase II US$58.8m overhaul of the airport’s main terminal building and surrounding structures.
Phase I of the work was completed back in December 2012, which included the construction of the new passenger concourse and passenger screening facility. The newly-announced improvement works are set to begin later this year and are expected to take three years.
The new phase II work will include upgrades to the ticketing counter area, historic rehabilitation of the terminal building, the relocation of rental car services from outside bungalow buildings to inside, and the addition of pre-security amenities.
The current rental car lot will be moved to a new permanent lot to the north of the main airport building, which will also now house the rental car customer service counters.
A new ticketing lobby will be built to the south of the main airport building where the current baggage pick-up station is, with a new baggage carousel being constructed just outside the north passenger concourse.
The latter stages of construction will include improvements to the terminal loop, signage and the development of a new ground transportation area.
The project team that has been awarded the contract comprises LA-based Swinerton Builders, Corgan, Studio One Eleven, and VCA Engineers. The contract is divided into phases that include design, preconstruction, and construction of the project components.
Jess Romo, airport director at Long Beach Airport, said, “This project accommodates existing activity, meaning that it’s really to help the customer experience and the passenger experience of those coming to the airport. It’s already a great airport, so this will just take it to another level.”
The prioritized elements of the project will include the improvements made to the ticketing lobby, which will include more self-check-in kiosks, a consolidated baggage pick-up area and TSA bag screening facility.
