Big moves at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, as officials dug in today to start the construction of new midfield taxiways. Part of the "Journey With AUS" expansion game plan, these concrete pathways are the groundwork for the airport's upcoming Concourse B. According to the City of Austin's official website, we're looking at a 2027 completion date, and they promise to untangle the way planes skitter around the grounds.
"This project demonstrates our commitment to providing world-class transportation facilities that support our growing economy and enhance the quality of life for our residents and visitors," Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax reportedly said. In the nitty-gritty, it's all about two miles of taxiways paired with some bridges situated below to bolster the connective tissue between runways and terminals.
We're talking serious bucks behind the effort, with Austin City Council shelling out a cool $320 million for construction, and throwing another $26.7 million to RS&H for design doodles. AUS snagged some federal dough too, to the tune of $2.8 million from the FAA, and $14.25 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's pockets. They say it's a no-brainer for the local economy, cooking up hundreds of jobs while the saws and cement mixers do their thing. AUS insists not a dime of this is coming from local tax coffers, leaning instead on grants, airport income, and bonds.
For the jet-setting crowd, the expansion should go unnoticed during your globetrotting–flights stay on schedule, and your airport lounge time stays sacred. 2025 will see some traffic tetris on the airport's south side and you'll have to say goodbye to the South Terminal come 2026. But hey, that's progress.
On the construction front, it's Austin Industries calling the shots as prime contractor. They've got designer RS&H sketching up a storm, and project managers WSP keeping tabs. After the taxiways are down, they'll jump-start Concourse B; a project the City Council green-lit through a couple of votes at the end of August and the tail end of September. Keep an eye out for local firms too, they're expected to keep busy pitching in on the project, mixing concrete, and bulldozing old plots to make room for the new digs.
