As the Yellowstone Regional Airport’s terminal expansion project enters its final stages, passengers should anticipate and prepare for significant delays over the next month or so.
“From May 15 to June 7, the construction will require some significant operational challenges,” YRA Director Aaron Buck told the airport board during its May 10 meeting. “You’re going to see changes happening in screening and throughout the screening process. And we would recommend that if you’re flying (during that time) that you’re here at least an hour-and-a-half early, especially if you have a checked bag.”
Those traveling between May 30 and June 7 should prepare for even longer delays of up to two hours, he said.
“(During that time) TSA will have to hand-screen your bag because there won’t be any equipment hooked up to screen and X-ray the bag,” Buck said. “We would ask those passengers to be here at least two hours early especially if they’re checking a bag.”
The delays come as project contractors work on renovating the existing baggage handling system, said Rob Bauer, the project manager from Groathouse Construction.
“The critical path for the next 30 days is the renovation of the baggage handling system,” he said. “We’re going to take apart the whole system and replace it with a new system. This change also requires coordination with TSA to relocate their baggage-screening equipment ... It has been and will continue to be impactful, especially to the airline personnel, but they’ve been really good to work with ... We appreciate everyone working with us as we work through the final phase.”
Upon completion of the work on the baggage handling system, the contractors will turn their attention to a renovation of the passenger screening system, Bauer said. The team is also working on interior and exterior finishes on the building, and is currently on schedule to meet its substantial completion date of Aug. 1, he said.
The terminal project, which began in August 2022, involves a 10,000-square-foot expansion that will add a waiting area, ticket counters, offices, baggage screening and storage to the east end of the building. When completed, the terminal will be named after the late Wyoming Sen. Hank Coe, a longtime supporter of air service in Cody.
Buck said he was working to minimize impacts to travelers during the final stages of the project, but said he appreciated patience and cooperation amidst the necessary delays.
“We’re doing our best to make sure these impacts don’t hurt the traveling person ... but with new and great things, sometimes you have to have a couple months of pain,” he said.
(2) comments
Why do this in our busy season.. why not over winter?
They started in August 2022 and went over the winter. It's common for these types of federal projects can take a year or more, so you're going to have work in all 4 seasons no matter how hard you try. They did make sure the runway closures that were required did not happen during the summer.
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