For the first time in five years, the parking lots and terminals at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will be construction-free zones for the holiday travel rush.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich and state transportation officials Tuesday celebrated the completion of the widening of the roads leading to the airport terminal, extension of curbside passenger drop-off and pick-up areas, and additional skywalks with moving sidewalks to connect passengers to the terminal.
The $252 million expansion was the last part of a $1.4 billion, five-year renovation and expansion project described as the “most aggressive capital investment” program in the airport?s history.
“We?ve essentially completed a total face-lift at the airport,” said Jonathan Dean, airport spokesman. “These projects that we?re now completing were dedicated to customers and ease of travel.”
Through a mix of bonds and other state funding, BWI expanded parking by at least 13,000 additional spaces in surface lots and garages, created a new rental car facility, added 11 new gates in terminal A/B, and upgraded utilities.
“The BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport of today is a modern, state-of-the-art international airport that will accommodate further growth,” said Timothy Campbell, executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration.
Dean said airport officials will now focus on maintaining and upgrading the runways and other areas used to store and operate aircraft.
In addition to celebrating the completion of the BWI expansion, Ehrlich and state officials released the latest state tourism figures for calendar year 2005, which showed tourism spending rose $700 million to $10.7 billion over 2004.
“Maryland?s tourism industry continues to be one of the state?s top economic engines,” Ehrlich said in a statement. “Over the last four years, we have launched aggressive advertising campaigns, invested in our tourism infrastructure ? This is further proof that our efforts are paying off.”
BWI expansion project includes:
» Widened upper and lower level roadways
» Separate areas for commercial and public vehicles
» Express exit lanes on lower level
» Climate-controlled overhead skywalks
» Canopies over curbside
