OSWEGATCHIE — Crews have started work on the second phase of construction on a $22 million project at the Ogdensburg International Airport. The second phase will target the main terminal and will include a new, multi-purpose great room to provide community space for civic gatherings, conferences, business meetings, and other public events, the office of […]
OSWEGATCHIE — Crews have started work on the second phase of construction on a $22 million project at the Ogdensburg International Airport. The second phase will target the main terminal and will include a new, multi-purpose great room to provide community space for civic gatherings, conferences, business meetings, and other public events, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on March 7.
The project is meant to “enhance the passenger experience and transform the Ogdensburg International Airport into a regional transportation hub that will attract new travelers to the area and fuel economic growth throughout the North Country,” Hochul’s office said. Constructed in 1980, the Ogdensburg International Airport, located in the town of Oswegatchie, “currently lacks adequate space to comfortably handle” the current passenger flow or accommodate the expected levels of growth in the coming years, per Hochul’s office. The project was awarded $18 million from the governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The awards are intended to “promote, revitalize, and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports, helping to create airports for the 21st century.” The effort will expand the check-in, ticketing, and baggage drop-off areas, construct a new canopy over the curbside drop-off/pick-up area, install new passenger information display systems, and make other improvements to “enhance the passenger experience and create a state-of-the-art gateway for the entire region.” “The modernization of Ogdensburg International Airport is poised to redefine our region’s aviation landscape,” Steve Lawrence, executive director of the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority said, in the state’s announcement. “The proposed plans for the Ogdensburg Airport terminal represent a significant opportunity to elevate the North Country’s aviation infrastructure, enhance travel experiences, and foster economic development. In addition, the innovative “adaptive terminal’ model transforms the terminal into a multifunctional community asset- with a new ‘Great Room’ building as its centerpiece. This project encapsulates a concerted effort to modernize and optimize our facilities, aiming to meet the evolving needs of our community and visitors.”