Lincoln Airport Authority Moves Forward with LNK NEXT Terminal Expansion Project
On April 9, members of the Lincoln Airport Authority (lincolnairport.com) voted unanimously to use their taxing authority for the first time since 1986 by authorizing the issuance of up to $56 million in bonds to pay for the LNK Next terminal-expansion project. The price has increased since fall, due in great part to increased costs of materials, but airport officials are hopeful that those costs will still come down. Construction is expected to start sometime this summer and take 18-24 months to complete.
The LNK NEXT project will update amenities at the 50-year-old terminal, add two new gates to expand airport capacity, leave room for additional expansion, and add infrastructure to allow TSA to run full pre-checks. The renovation also will consolidate the ticket counters and allow for food-and-beverage service, including the Flyers Club, post-security. The project calls for expansion of the north side of the terminal, consolidating airline gates and adding about 35,000 square feet to the existing 58,000-square-foot building. Lincoln’s Sampson Construction has teamed with Christman Construction out of Michigan, which was selected to serve as the construction manager-at-risk.
Consolidating the airline ticket counters in the departure-flight area will enhance passenger flow and simplify future expansion. The project also will reposition the baggage claim and rental-car counters to enhance traffic on level one of the airport facility. Since the terminal was designed in 1974, its split-use, disconnected layout has required two fully staffed security checkpoints and two separate checked-baggage facilities. Consolidating these checkpoints and bag-screening facilities will add efficiency to the passenger experience through minimized bag movement and reduction in the number of times personnel would have to be split up.
The Lincoln Airport Authority operates the Lincoln Airport, a public/military airport located five miles northwest of Lincoln that delivers more than $1.3 billion per year in value to the economy. To stay up-to-date about LNK NEXT, visit next.lincolnairport.com. To learn more about the Lincoln Airport or to book a flight, visit lincolnairport.com or call (402) 458-2480.