By the end of 2026, the Airport will complete approximately $35 million in construction projects. From 100,000 square feet of flooring to 250 more parking spots, big changes are coming to the Ozarks’ airport.
CURRENT PROJECTS
More than 15 million people have walked across the now iconic carpet since the terminal opened in 2009. There are only so many footprints and coffee spills that carpet can deal with. In short, the carpet is worn out – and no longer meeting the needs of the terminal.
By the time it’s all said and done, approximately 93,000-square-feet of tile and carpet will be replaced with terrazzo, a decorative hard-surfaced floor treatment that will last for decades and is easy to clean. Its downside: the time and effort it takes to install.
“Terrazzo is a unique challenge,” said Dave Schaumburg, the airport’s assistant director of aviation. “Installing it takes a lot of time. And we can’t just close the terminal during installation – we have to do it in multiple phases, with customers in the building.”
Terrazzo is a layer of liquid resin that’s mixed with chips of glass and stone and then poured on the floor. After it dries, it’s polished. The finished product is hard and durable, like concrete, and has a life expectancy of 50 years. The terrazzo will be put down in sections to lessen customer inconvenience, over the course of roughly 42 weeks. Construction begins by August.
In addition to new flooring at the secure area exit, new automated exit lanes will be added this fall. Designed by Alliiance in conjunction with local architects Dake Wells, the automated exit lanes provide a more seamless departure of deplaning passengers while reducing operation costs at the Airport.
“This technology has been successful in increasing safety and security measures at larger airports across the nation, and we are excited to bring it to Springfield,” says Schaumburg. “Plus, the design allows for future expansion of the TSA checkpoint.”
Five jet bridges from the late 90s were moved from the old terminal to the new Midfield Terminal when it opened in 2009. These jet bridges have met the end of their useful life, and thanks to a $5.3 million Airport Terminal Program grant and other federal grant money, the Airport is contributing just a 10 percent match to the $7.58 million to replace five jet bridges. These environmentally conscious new jet bridges have the latest technology and are more energy efficient, with air and electricity connections for aircraft parked at each gate.
Almost $10 million of concrete will be poured as part of the Terminal Apron Expansion Project in the next 12 months. Former Senator Roy Blunt secured $6.4 million in federal funds for the project. Combined with $2.78 million from the Infrastructure Investment in Jobs Act, federal grant funds received for the project totals $9.18 million to expand the concrete area near the gates. The Airport Master Plan has high-level concepts of what the terminal could look like with up to six additional gates when SGF passenger numbers continue to grow.
This project paves the way, literally, for expanding the terminal. “This is the first step of many to expand the terminal, but this is the first step,” says Weiler. “As passenger numbers continue to grow, the needs of our terminal will continue to be addressed in future projects.”
In the past decade, there have been three parking lot expansions at the terminal. But on a near weekly basis at SGF, the short-term parking lot is at capacity. To add additional much-needed spots, the Airport Board of Directors approved a design agreement to expand the short-term parking lot, with construction costs estimated at $3 million. More than 225 short-term parking spaces will be added by spring 2026, flanked by refreshed landscaping.
In total, nearly $35 million in Airport improvements will be completed in the next 18 months. But an airport that is under construction is an airport that is thriving.
“Right now, we’re trending 9 percent passenger growth year to date,” said Weiler. “As an Airport guided by a master plan, we make decisions based on decades of projections to ensure we meet the needs as they become real. Our Airport is experiencing tremendous growth, and we are keeping up with the demands of our market to support the air service needs of our region.”