Passenger Pickup And Drop-Off Routine To Change At Omaha’s Eppley Airfield During Multimillion-Dollar Construction Project

Published by Nikki Palmer on Thu, 11/02/2023 - 3:00am

Passengers deboard a Southwest flight at Eppley Airfield. (Ryan Soderlin / Omaha World-Herald via AP)

OMAHA — Starting Friday about 10 a.m., passenger pickup and drop-off routines at Omaha’s airport will change temporarily to accommodate the $65 million terminal drive and canopy construction project that’s underway.

Pickup and drop-off lanes at Eppley Airfield will relocate to Level 1 of the South Garage. Until spring 2025, motorists will be seeing the signage directing them to the new route and correct lane.

Vehicles entering those South Garage lanes won’t be charged parking fees. All other parking is to continue to be available with no changes to entry or exit lanes, according to a media advisory from the Omaha Airport Authority.

Airport passengers are to use crosswalks and elevated walkways to move between the South Garage and the terminal.

Drop-offs for shuttles, taxis, buses and vehicles taller than 6-feet-10-inches are to be periodically relocated to various lanes in front of the terminal.

When the new roadway at the curbside of the terminal is complete and open, airport visitors will have access to an additional passenger drop-off lane, expanded and improved ADA accessibility, and a glass canopy that provides cover from weather conditions.

To further support long-term growth, Eppley in early 2024 is slated to begin construction of a $92.5 million central utility plant. Airport officials said the 21,155-square-foot facility, to be completed in early 2025, will replace aging infrastructure and reduce overall energy consumption.

According to the Airport Authority, a non-taxing body that collects user fees to support airport operations, the terminal drive and canopy project is being funded with airport revenues and about $31 million in federal grants.

The central utility plant project received a $5 million grant through the Federal Aviation Administration, and it’s also funded by airport revenues.

This story was originally published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. It is part of the national nonprofit States Newsroom. Find more at nebraskaexaminer.com.