Rahm Emanuel, mayor of Chicago, has revealed plans to invest nearly US$250m in expanding the security checkpoints, concession facilities and terminal parking garage at Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The project will create a new 80,000ft² security hall that will help to address passenger bottlenecks in the existing security area. It will also create 20,000ft² of new concession space, a 50% increase, and expand the parking garage by an extra four levels and 1,400 premium parking spaces. The existing pedestrian bridge over Cicero Avenue will also be increased from 60ft to 300ft.
“Midway is more than an airport. It is an important economic engine for the city of Chicago so with this modernization we are making an essential investment in the future of Midway but also the future of Chicago,” Emanuel said.
“These enhancements will create jobs for Chicago’s residents, provide an improved experience for travelers from the garage to the gate, and ensure that our world class city has two world class airports.”
Midway Airport will now issue a request for proposals (RFP) in early September with the view to receiving bids through mid-December 2015. The airport will then conduct an evaluation of those bids in first quarter 2016 and advance the proposal in the city council in second quarter 2016.
It is estimated that the project will create 1,700 construction and concession jobs and will double concession revenues by 2019.
