State Representative for District 34 Mike Derby says, "I'm hopeful that the state of South Dakota will have a role in playing, in that it's for tourism, it's for economic development, and it's the future of Rapid City to have great air service and efficient air service." Read the entire article and watch the video on NewsCenter1.
RAPID CITY, S.D. - A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday morning to celebrate the start of the Rapid City Airport's Terminal Expansion Project. The expansion is a three-phase project with phase one focusing on the ticketing, baggage drop-off and the TSA location.
Phase two will expand the concourse and gate area and phase three will expand the car rental and baggage claim. The first phase will add two back of house carousels making it easier for workers to get luggage to their designated aircraft.
Executive Director of Rapid City Regional Airport Patrick Dame says, "It's going to make that process far better than it is today. Very much improve the efficiency of the operation for those areas that really are inefficient today, that haven't been touched since the 80s."
Funding for phase one is mostly federal dollars with $11.9 million coming from Bi-partisan Infrastructure Law funding. FAA Airport Improvement dollars and Airport Capital Reserve funding are also supporting the project.
State Representative for District 34 Mike Derby says, "I'm hopeful that the state of South Dakota will have a role in playing, in that it's for tourism, it's for economic development, and it's the future of Rapid City to have great air service and efficient air service."
Airport officials say it could take up to a decade to secure funding for the entire terminal expansion project. Phase one construction is expected to take 18 months. For more information on the Rapid City Regional Airport Terminal Expansion, click here.