Columbia City Council passes $13.1 million in improvements for airport
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, (KMIZ)
The Columbia City Council on Monday passed several projects to improve Columbia Regional Airport.
The city approved roughly $13.1 million in projects around the airport, with federal funding covering a large portion.
The first of which includes renovations to its northern parking lot, which includes paving the existing lot and adding about 250 more spaces. The city previously stated it expects for the additional parking to be available before head of Allegiant Airlines starting services to Florida in June.
That project will cost $3.2 million, with all of the funding coming from the transportation sales tax, according to city documents.
Another approved project is the construction of a fourth terminal boarding bridge. It will cost $1.8 million, with 90% coming from the Federal Aviation Administration. It will cost the city $60,000 for the design and the 10% match for construction, meeting documents show. The project will take roughly two years to complete.
The city also approved a deicing pad and containment facility project. Meeting documents show 90% of the $4.7 million needed for the project will come from federal funds.
“This system will capture excess deicing fluid (glycol) applied to aircrafts during inclement winter weather, that currently flows into the stormwater system,” document say.
Construction for that project is expected to be done by this winter or spring 2027.
The council also approved the reconstruction of the terminal building loop road from the terminal to Airport Drive. Documents say 90% of the $859,381 needed will come from the FAA.
The city will pay for all of the $828,176 needed for the airport’s new kitchen. Funding will come from the terminal project account.
The city will also spend $1.7 million to rebuild 1.3 miles of Airport Drive. Funding will come from the transportation sales tax.