The Austin City Council has approved millions of dollars in contracts for the expansion of  the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s, with final funding amounts approved expected to reach billions.

Expansion of the 25-year-old city facility will be spread over several years and includes a variety of projects, Community Impact reported. The work includes development of a new baggage-handling system, facilities, and passenger gates; airfield upgrades; and construction of new taxiways and a second terminal.

City Council recently approved $190 million in contracts for improved airfield lighting, a ramp control system to improve aircraft safety, engineering services, and infrastructure upgrades.

Council members in August voted for more than $300 million in new spending, according to CI, including:

  • An additional $155 million for construction of redesigned aircraft taxiways in the middle of ABIA's campus, plus an additional $6 million for architectural and engineering services in support. Badawi said project design began about two years ago, but has changed "considerably" since then. With those August contract revisions, both now total $346.7 million combined.
  • A $60 million authorization that allows several firms to offer architecture and engineering services for expansion projects.
  • A contract increase of $13.08 million, which will bring the total spending to $19.1 million for improvements to the airport's baggage handling system.
  • $72 million for the design of ABIA's new Concourse B midfield, and a new tunnel linking it with the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal. Construction funding will be awarded in the future, and the city anticipates federal funding support as well.

In September, the council will consider both the acceptance of up to$500 million in future state and federal grants to support the projects and the awarding of  aviation officials said council will also consider the acceptance for hundreds of millions of dollars to support Journey with AUS alongside nearly $1.9 billion in contracts:
Receiving as much as $500 million in future state and federal grant funding for the ABIA projects including a $1.12 million contract for soil management to prepare the midfield area for new taxiways and $865 million for design and construction for a new arrivals and departures hall.