WASHINGTON (WAVY) — Norfolk International Airport is getting nearly $15 million in federal money for a project to help with traffic flow in and out of its main terminal area.
The funding was made possible by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminals Program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine helped pass. They announced nearly $60 million in federal improvements to airports across Virginia.
“Virginia’s airports help Virginians and visitors get where they need to go and serve as critical economic development hubs,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding, which was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will make important upgrades to help airports across Virginia operate smoothly. We will keep working to bolster Virginia’s infrastructure and grow our economy.”
A full breakdown of the funding allocation is below:
- $40 million for Washington Dulles International Airport to support the construction of the new 14-gate, 400,000-square-foot terminal building, including direct connections to the Aerotrain and indirect connection to the Metrorail.
- $14,716,366 for Norfolk International Airport to support the realignment of the airport exclusive use access roadway to improve traffic flow into and out of the main terminal area.
- $2.25 million for Richmond International Airport to design a proposed consolidated Passenger Screening Checkpoint to make passenger flow more efficient and reduce congestion.
Last month, the senators announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia’s airports through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, with more than $8.6 million going to Norfolk International Airport to rehabilitate 3,000 feet of existing paved runway to maintain its structural integrity and make it last longer.
Norfolk’s airport is in the midst of a nearly $1 billion renovation, with the airport breaking ground in June on a new Customs and Border Patrol inspections facility, with the hope of adding international flights in the future. The airport also plans to add a new hotel and build a new departures building.
“We’re bringing the airport into the modern age,” said Mark Perryman, president of the Norfolk International Airport, back in June. “This has been a great facility, but it’s 50-plus years old now. A lot of the systems that are not seen by the general public will be upgraded. Speed of baggage, speed of the various elements that you don’t necessarily see.”
The work at the airport comes at a time when it is on track to have another record-breaking year for passengers.
Post-pandemic, it saw more than 4 million passengers in 2022, 4.5 million passengers in 2023 and is expected to near 5 million by the end of this year.