TEXARKANA, Ark. - The groundbreaking for the $34 million passenger terminal planned for Texarkana Regional Airport is set for 11 a.m. June 12.
Airport officials hope to complete the project in 2024, and Paul Mehrlich, executive director of aviation, said the $34 million price tag will include not only the building's construction but also everything that goes with it, including aircraft taxiways, an apron for aircraft parking and jet bridges for loading passengers.
Airport Authority Board members set the groundbreaking date and time at their meeting Thursday morning.
The new terminal has been in the planning stages for at least 15 years.
Once the terminal is complete, they will look at possibly extending the airport's primary runway from 6,000 feet to about 9,000 feet to accommodate potential future commercial cargo fights in addition to the existing commercial passenger flights. The runway lengthening could also be partially funded by Federal Aviation Administration grant funds.
Mehrlich said he will be making a presentation regarding the new terminal to the Texarkana Arkansas City Board of Directors at about 5 p.m., just before the board's 6 p.m. regular meeting Monday at Arkansas-side City Hall.
Along with business cargo, airport officials are also looking at possibly buying and developing 38 acres of nearby land to develop and either use or lease to help support the potential air cargo industry or other business growth and development near the airport.
(The Airport Board's next regular meeting will be at 9 a.m., May 26.)