Bidding opens for Cleveland's $1.6B airport overhaul
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Companies can begin submitting bids for phase one of the Cleveland airport terminal modernization project tomorrow.
Why it matters: The unprecedented investment in Hopkins, dubbed "CLEvolution," will entail construction at and around the airport for much of the next decade.
- Planners have structured the project into two major phases — "landside" and "airside" — to minimize disruption at the existing facility.
Driving the news: Airport officials hosted an industry day downtown Tuesday to provide an overview of the timeline, plus various design and construction components for contractors, consultants and suppliers who may want a piece of the $1.6 billion in total estimated costs.
What they're saying: Terry Cassidy from the Paslay Group, a consulting firm specializing in airport projects, said the most important problem to solve is the passenger processing logjam during peak hours.
- This is the root of the airport's dismal customer satisfaction rankings, he said, and why the "landside" phase has been prioritized.
- The solution is more of everything: square footage, airline desks, parking spaces and TSA security lines.
Friction point: Chatter from a number of the industry folks Tuesday complained that Cleveland is behind the eight ball compared to a city like Pittsburgh and the proposed timeline — with a new terminal scheduled to open in 2032 — doesn't match the sense of urgency that passengers and businesses want.
Reality check: Dennis Kramer, the assistant director of airport development, said project elements have been scheduled sequentially to avoid eliminating critical airport parking revenue and significantly disrupting operations.
What's next: First up is a new 1,500-space parking lot that will debut next year.
- Once that opens, a new vertical garage will be constructed on the site of the current Orange Lot. It will include a new ground transportation center and RTA rapid stop.
- When that's completed in 2029, the current Smart Parking garage will be demolished to make way for the new terminal, or "head house" in industry parlance.