Construction continues as service expands at the Durango Lap Plata County Airport. This summer, you're watching the Local News Network brought to you by Payroll Department and Sirius Texas Barbecue. I'm Connor Shrieve. Phase one B of the terminal expansion is the largest portion of the project, adding 20,000 square feet to the terminal and renovating another 20,000 when it's complete. In 2026, there will be two new gates, a new security checkpoint, and a new baggage claim area about twice the size and carrying capability as the current one.

The first thing the public will see at this point moving forward is the opening of the new baggage claim and arrivals hall that is currently scheduled for approximately August of 2025. After that is completed, we'll have another push into 2026, where a brand new airline boarding gate for American Airlines is constructed new food, beverage, retail, and the new TSA screening checkpoint will come along in 2026.

Aviation Director Tony Vicar, says flyers will also notice renovations to current amenities taking place alongside expansion work. He says the added capacity is just a matter of keeping up with the times.

Our overall passenger traffic today is nearly double what it was in 1988 when the current terminal was built. So the sheer need for size is, is you know, really defined by the amount of traffic at your airport. And then the other big change is the type of aircraft being used. You can see behind us, you're just referencing, that's an Airbus A three 20, that's 150 C aircraft. That's just fundamentally different than the type of aircraft that historically served this

Market. The work is heavily sub phased, designed to allow passenger traffic to run as smoothly as possible alongside construction. The carry says everything is on schedule.

Phase one A was completed in just about one year of overall construction. That was right on schedule, and this current phase is so far on and actually a little bit ahead of schedule. We are anticipating that the new baggage claim space might be pushing into the fall. Right now it's looking more like late summer.

It will be twice as big with the ability to carry about twice the cargo It's designed to allow for another belt to be added in the future. The carry says increasing traffic proves the expansions utility.

This summer will kick off Daily Houston service on United that's been served on weekends and past summers, but the United has seen a lot of strength and growth and demand for that market. So we're going to be seeing that expand out to daily service starting in late June through the core portion of the summer. That continues to be an area of growth that we're

Seeing overall. The airport is also expanding parking, having paved 225 new spaces last year, and planning to add 150 this year. The project is funded through a variety of state and federal grants, along with airport cash reserves. For more information about this and other stories, visit Durango Local News. Thanks for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I'm Connor Shrieve.