New digs for Anchorage International.

• Author: Moore, Melissa
• Position: Airport

For the next few years, a summer trip to the Anchorage airport is going to be hectic: full of road construction, detours and dust. But the benefits are worth it.

It happens every time you go to the airport. You fight the traffic to get to the terminal. Then, once you get there and wind through the parking lot to find a parking space, you face yet another problem as soon as you walk through the terminal doors.

Lines! Lines at the ticket counter, lines to get through security, lines to get on the plane.

And it's no different if you simply want to pick up a guest. You circle around for who knows how long to find a place to park. And once you find your weary guest, it's off to the baggage claim. Another hurry-up-to-wait experience. ARRGGHHH!!

Help is on the Way

The State of Alaska has three different projects in the works to alleviate the headaches and stress of traveling in and around the Anchorage International Airport Roads will be widened, the terminal will be expanded, and parking lots will grow.

The budget for projects at the Anchorage International Airport totals about $230 million, and includes state and federal dollars. The airport plan is in connection with the much-touted Gateway Alaska project, a 10-year plan to expand and improve airport facilities in and around the airport. The Gateway Alaska project will cost about $350 million.

Nearly five million passengers accessed the Anchorage airport last year, a growth of about 4 percent each year for the past three years, according to statistics provided by the airport. They flew on the 23 domestic and 38 international air carriers that access the 4,700-acre airport. This growth in travelers is expected to continue as travelers look to the Last Frontier for their vacations.

Operational and code deficiencies, along with increased passenger demand, have resulted in delays, crowds and growing frustrations. A study recently contracted by the airport said that baggage claim provides only 43 percent of the space and service that is needed to effectively handle the number of passengers that run through the airport each year. Ticket lobbies have only 40 percent of what is needed.

It became obvious to airport officials, and to the state government, that improvements had to be made.

With approved funding from the legislature, with the sale of some bonds, and with funds from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Highway Administration, changes are on the way.

The Roads

The drive to the...