Projects to improve Watertown, Saranac Lake airports begin

HOUNSFIELD — Projects that will modernize both the Watertown International Airport in the town of Hounsfield and the Adirondack Regional Airport near Saranac Lake are underway. Additionally, work is progressing on the expansion of the main terminal and other enhancements at the Ogdensburg International Airport in the town of Oswegatchie in St. Lawrence County. The three projects were awarded money from the governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The projects represent a $54.5 million investment in the North Country’s transportation infrastructure, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced recently. Hochul announced the projects during an Aug. 13 visit to the Watertown International Airport.

Watertown project

The $32.5 million project at the Watertown airport includes $28 million from the Upstate Airport competition. It’ll involve construction of a new, 25,000-square-foot terminal that will house a new lobby, ticketing, and baggage-claim areas; a jet bridge; expanded passenger waiting areas; and dedicated car-rental counterspace, “among other amenities,” per Hochul’s office. The current terminal will continue operating until the new terminal, which is being built next to the original building, is finished in the summer of 2025. Upon completion, operations will be transferred to the new terminal and extensive renovations will begin on the old terminal building to add a new restaurant, offices and classroom/event spaces. Established in 1928, Watertown International Airport handled more than 22,000 enplanements in 2023. It serves as a key gateway to the Thousand Islands Region and is a “vital hub” for Fort Drum military personnel and their families. However, the airport is “outdated” and currently lacks a jet bridge, leaving passengers with little protection from weather as they board or disembark from an aircraft. Waiting spaces are also cramped, often forcing soldiers and other passengers to remain outside while they await transport, per Hochul’s office.

Saranac Lake project

The project at the Adirondack Regional Airport was awarded $8.5 million from the Upstate Airport competition. With an estimated total cost of $8.8 million, the project is expected to create more than 90 jobs and be completed by the winter of 2025. The effort will expand the central receiving area, update the furniture and lighting, and relocate and expand the café. Additional improvements include air-circulation enhancements such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, the installation of solar panels, and an upgraded water well. Built in 1942, the Adirondack Regional Airport handles more than 4,700 enplanements annually and is the only commercial-service airport within the Adirondack Park. Located in the Town of Harrietstown, the airport is a short drive from Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and other popular destinations in the High Peaks region. “From the Thousand Islands to the Adirondack Mountains, the North Country is home to some of New York State’s most popular attractions, and the improvements we are making to the Watertown, Ogdensburg and Adirondack airports will create world-class travel experiences that will make the region an even more desirable place to live, work and visit,” Hochul said in the announcement. “The work now underway at these three airports will provide the North Country with state-of-the-art gateways that will keep visitors coming back again and again, boosting tourism and providing a high-energy charge to the region’s economy.”