Milwaukee County seeks federal money for $80M airport concourse reconstruction

Milwaukee County is seeking federal funding to help redevelop Concourse E at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

The county wants to demolish Concourse E, which has been closed since 2017, and replace it with a larger terminal with more passenger capacity. Airport officials said the project will cost around $80 million and solicited a package of bids over the summer.

The project has been in planning since 2016 and was shovel-ready in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction could start in 2025.

The airport is pursuing funding through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, specifically from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Terminals Program, county officials said. Officials said the project can’t move forward without federal funding and noted a new terminal would have a “profound and lasting impact” on the local economy.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and local business leaders on Friday spoke at a press conference in support of pursuing federal funding.

“A redeveloped international concourse at Mitchell International Airport is important for the future of our regional economy. We know that federal funding is critical for this economic development project to move forward,” Crowley said in a statement.

“I am proud of Milwaukee County’s strong partnership with the federal government, and it’s my hope that we receive these funds to enhance the Airport’s competitiveness, making it a more attractive option for airlines, businesses, and travelers, thereby supporting the region’s and state’s economic vitality. By making this project a reality, we will create jobs, open a new front door for visitors to our community, and provide major benefits to Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin for years to come,” he added.

“The international terminal project at Mitchell International Airport will create good-paying, family-supporting jobs in the construction trades that will benefit the union workers and contractors we represent,” said Andrew Disch, the political director of the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, in a statement. “It would be a wise decision for the federal government to invest in this project,” he added.

Before the pandemic, the airport shared plans for a 50,000-square-foot international concourse split into two phases: one with a two-gate facility and a second with new gate seating space and additional arrival and departure gates. The current international terminal was built in 1975 with around 23,000 square feet of space. Passengers must either shuttle or take a lengthy walk to reach the detached terminal from the main terminal or parking garage.

“Our region is home to a number of businesses headquartered in locations around the globe,” said Dale Kooyenga, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. “Conversely, many locally headquartered companies are doing much of their business overseas. Ease of travel in and out of Milwaukee is important to these organizations,” he added.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is Wisconsin’s largest transportation asset and generates $3 billion in economic activity, county officials said. The airport supports nearly 26,000 jobs with around $900 million in earnings while visitors generate state and local tax revenues, officials added.

As Wisconsin’s largest transportation asset, the airport generates $3 billion in economic activity. It supports nearly 26,000 jobs with roughly $900 million in earnings, while visitors generate substantial state and local tax revenues, officials said.