The Quad Cities International Airport announced today (Thursday, May 28) that it has been awarded $3.3 million in federal grant funding to support its ongoing construction of Phase Two of Project GATEWAY.
The grant, which supports the QCIA’s multi-year terminal modernization project, comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminal Program (ATP).
According to the airport, the ATP was established through the Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help airports across the country modernize aging terminal infrastructure, improve accessibility, enhance the passenger experience and increase terminal sustainability and operational efficiency.
“This investment represents a tremendous win not only for the airport, but for the entire Quad Cities region,” QCIA Executive Director Benjamin Leischner said. “We are incredibly grateful to our federal delegation and elected officials for their continued advocacy and support in helping secure federal funding for this transformational project.”
A previous IIJA grant of $2.86 million was awarded in 2022 to support Project Gateway.
The airport recently celebrated the start of Phase 2 with a “groundbreaking event on Wednesday, April 29. The total project represents a $60 million investment in the Moline terminal and the first major front-of-the-house, or landside, terminal modernization in 40 years.
On hand for the project’s latest launch were QCIA staff, airport authority members, staff, community and business leaders as well as the construction development team.
“Bringing federal dollars back into our community helps reduce the burden on local resources while supporting local contractors, local labor and regional economic activity throughout construction,” Mr. Leischner said in a release Thursday, May 28, announcing the federal grant award. “Project Gateway is about creating a terminal experience that reflects the strength and momentum of the Quad Cities region, and this funding helps us continue moving that vision forward.”
Phase Two improvements
Phase Two – the largest and most publicly visible phase of the multi-year project – will modernize nearly every public-facing space from the terminal entrance to the security checkpoint.
The project team is being led by Davenport-based Estes Construction, the construction manager. In addition, the team includes the Middleton, Wisconsin-based design firm of Mead & Hunt, with support from Legat Architects, IMEG, MBJ, and Crawford Murphy & Tilly, most of whom have Quad Cities operations. Also involved is Meyer Borgman and Johnson Inc., a structural engineer based in Minneapolis.
Phase Two includes upgrading finishes and lighting throughout the terminal, expanding and modernizing restroom facilities, new lounge and seating areas, nursing mothers’ suites, companion care restrooms, refreshed concessions and retail spaces, improved circulation and passenger flow. It also will replace the terminal’s original brick flooring with new terrazzo surfaces for improved accessibility and traveler comfort.
The project also includes enhancements intended to better reflect how passengers travel today while preparing the airport to meet future demand, according to the QCIA.
“This federal investment in the Quad Cities International Airport is about more than improving a terminal – it’s about investing in the future of our entire region,” U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Illinois) said in the QCIA release. “Project GATEWAY will improve the travel experience for families, strengthen accessibility, support local jobs, and help grow our regional economy. I’m proud to support projects like this that bring federal dollars back home and help modernize the infrastructure communities depend on every day.”
18-month construction
Phase One, which was completed more than a year ago, was an $18 million investment that modernized the airlines’ ticketing counter area, created a new baggage makeup building with conveyor belt, and added new break rooms and training spaces for the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The Phase Two construction is expected to be completed in about 18 months. This phase alone is a $19 million project. The latest phase also holds the distinction of being the airport’s first IMPACT project, a signed construction agreement with the Illowa Construction and Labor Management Council. The agreement means the project will be completed on budget, on time and without any work stoppages.
Project leaders have said work is being completed in carefully planned phases to ensure the airport remains fully operational throughout construction.
For more information and project updates, visit qcairport.com.
