ITHACA, N.Y. — Major renovations at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport will soon be underway as the first phase of construction begins for the $24 million project.
On Tuesday, Tompkins County legislators unanimously supported awarding a $7.6 million bid for Phase I to Streeter Associates in Elmira. The first phase of the project will focus on renovating the terminal and will add space, update the airline offices, move screening equipment behind the counter areas, upgrade utilities and improve the lobby area for better flow.
Airport Manager Mike Hall said it’s important work begins soon because the full project needs to be complete by the end of 2019. The project will be divided into three phases and the airport will remain open during renovations.
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The budget for the project, which will be funded by a New York State Aviation Project Grant, is $7,638,000. The county received three bids for the project. Murnane Building Contractors in Syracuse and LeChase Construction in Ithaca also put in bids, but the county ultimately went with the cheapest option, which was Streeter Associates.
The full project will cost more than $24 million. In May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo visited Ithaca to announce Ithaca’s local airport would receive funding as part of the Upstate Airport Economic Development Revitalization Competition. A month later, Tompkins County accepted the $14.2 million grant from New York State.
However, by accepting the grant the county is now responsible for covering the cost of the rest of the project. Some grants have been secured, and the difference is about $8 million. There are a number of grants the county is hopeful for to cover the cost.
Featured image: Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport Expansion. Provided Photo.