The Quad Cities International Airport held a ribbon cutting, Monday, March 31, for the new 14,600-square-foot secure baggage handling area – featuring a state-of-the-art conveyor belt system. CREDIT TODD WELVAERT
The Quad Cities International Airport is celebrating completion of the new baggage makeup building and modernized ticket counters featured in the first $18 million phase of QCIA’s transformative Project Gateway renovation. The Monday, March 31, ribbon-cutting in the gleaming white 14,600-square-foot secure baggage handling area – featuring a state-of-the-art conveyor belt system – also comes […]
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The Quad Cities International Airport is celebrating completion of the new baggage makeup building and modernized ticket counters featured in the first $18 million phase of QCIA’s transformative Project Gateway renovation.The Monday, March 31, ribbon-cutting in the gleaming white 14,600-square-foot secure baggage handling area – featuring a state-of-the-art conveyor belt system – also comes a year after Phase 1 construction launched on April 4, 2024. QCIA Executive Director Benjamin Leischner cuts the ribbon while Randy Clarahan, the market executive for Mortenson, and Jennifer Radloff, chair of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County hold either side, Monday, March 31, 2025. The ribbon cutting was celebrating completion of the new baggage makeup building and modernized ticket counters. PHOTO CREDIT TODD WELVAERTThat building will allow Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) agents to safely process luggage away from the eyes of the public and it also will mean travelers no longer will have to haul heavy bags through screening. In addition, QCIA passengers are already enjoying a smoother check-in experience thanks to the modern, upgraded airline ticketing counters already installed as part of Phase 1. It marked their first forward-facing upgradeat the Moline airport in 40 years.Monday’s Phase 1 celebration also provided QCIA Executive Director Benjamin Leischner the opportunity to announce the upcoming launch of the $20 million Phase 2 of the Project Gateway modernization.“While today is about celebrating how far we’ve come, it’s also about looking ahead,” Mr. Leischner told a large group of local community and project leaders, many of them representing the Quad Cities tradespeople who made Phase 1 possible. Phase 2 is set to begin in the fall of 2025, with design work expected to be completed in July, the airport director added.U.S. Rep. Eric Sorenson, D-Moline, a frequent QCIA flyer, called Project Gateway more than a renovation. “It’s a game-changer for our region,” he said. “We’re making travel through the Quad Cities more efficient, more secure and more welcoming. I can’t wait to use this myself.”Travelers aren’t the only ones who will benefit, however.
Building a strong economy
“A strong airport means a strong economy,” Mr. Sorensen added before leaving the event to catch a flight to Washington, D.C. “It means more jobs, more opportunities and a more connected community, whether it’s families heading out on a vacation, business travelers bringing new investment into our region or service members flying to and from their active duty.”Mr. Leischner called Phase 1’s completion “another exciting milestone” in the transformative journey taking place at QCIA.“When we first announced this project on this day four years ago, COVID was still dominating our day-to-day lives and we had no idea what to expect month-to-month, let alone the years it would take to begin executing this plan,” he said.“Our vision and promise was that we would modernize and enhance the passenger experience in ways that would reflect the growth, innovation and vitality of the Quad Cities region,” Mr. Leischner added.He singled out QCIA’s design partner Alliance for helping “establish an authentic sense of place that will guide future design phases and will help make sure that our airport is quintessentially Quad Cites.”And he saluted Randy Clarahan, the market executive for Mortenson, who is leading the Project Gateway effort. Mr. Clarahan, in turn, applauded airport leaders, the QC Mortensen team and Quad Cities trades and suppliers who brought Phase 1 to life.“When we were selected back in November of 2021 – seems like a while ago – in the interview I remember distinctly we made promises and commitments that said we would deliver this project safely, on budget, on time and those promises were met and I think exceeded in some ways,” Mr. Clarahan said.
Keeping dollars in QC
He also promised then “to make sure that this project was going to be built locally, with local subs and local craft labor.” Mortensen, with offices in Iowa City, delivered on that score given that of the 15 total subcontractors and suppliers on the project, 11 were from the Quad Cities area and just two were from outside Iowa and Illinois. Mr. Leischner added “We’re incredibly fortunate to have robust skilled trades in our region to allow us to keep federal funding in our community and reinvest it into local jobs, amplifying federal investment, six to seven times over its initial direct impact.”First-tier regional subcontractors and suppliers for Phase 1 included: Builders Sales and Service, Bush Construction, Allied Construction Services, Continental Fire, Economy Roofing, Gagnon, L&L Flooring, Lovewell Fence, Northwest Mechanical, Raynor, Treiber Concrete, Tri-City Electric and Tri-City Iron Works, according to Mortenson. Additional second-tier suppliers and contractors also played a role.“The partnerships that we had across the board were outstanding,” Mr. Clarahan said. “A shoutout to AJ Loss and the Bush team who were integral in helping us get that done.” In all, Mr. Clarahan said “Over 96% of the craft labor was from here, from the Quad Cities, and we’re proud to continue to work with them as we continue to look forward to celebrating today but then looking forward to the next phase of the project which is going to be more public-facing.”
What’s next?
Those upcoming improvements will, for example, include replacing the aging brick flooring, adding a curbside canopy for weather protection, updating restrooms to include companion-care facilities and nursing rooms, relocating public meeting spaces for better accessibility and creating an indoor/outdoor observation area for travelers and visitors. The 'click-clack' of suitcase wheels rolling over the older brick flooring in the airport will be a thing of the past being replaced by new tile as part of the $20 million Phase 2 airport update. CREDIT TODD WELVAERT“This airport connects families, fuels our region's economy and welcomes visitors from all over the world,” Mr. Leischner said. “It should be a reflection of the Quad Cities, a place of innovation, warmth and progress.”Mr. Leischner also offered special thanks to Jennifer Radloff, chair of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County, whose expertise as a project manager for Shive-Hattery was invaluable during Phase 1. “Today is more than just a ribbon cutting. “It’s a testament to our community’s commitment to progress,” Ms. Radloff said Monday.“The airport is our airport. It connects families. It fuels our economy and it welcomes visitors from around the world. It should be a point of pride, setting the tone for the experiences people have while they’re here and offering a sense of home when they return.”She added: “While there is much more to come – getting rid of the brown brick floors – the completion of this phase is a critical step forward. Every phase, every improvement brings us closer to realizing the full potential of this transformation.”For more information on Project Gateway visit https://www.qcairport.com/project-gateway/.
Phase 1 – By the Numbers
Precast Panels: 144 yards of concrete used to fabricate structural pre-cast concrete walls.
Radiant floor heat: 17,500 linear feet of tubing embedded in concrete; 250 gallons of glycol used as a heating solution.
Demolition: More than 3 million pounds of concrete removed from site.
Structural steel: 31 tons of structural steel installed.
Subcontractors and economic impact: 15 total subcontractors/suppliers on the project. In all, 11 were from the Quad Cities area and two from outside Iowa and Illinois.
Total subcontract value: $9,022,893. And $6,460,094 of it went to local area contractors and suppliers.
Labor Hours: 26,316 labor hours have been performed on the project, all skilled trades. A total of 25,445 hours were performed by Quad-Cities area trades.
Funding: Combination of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport entitlement funds and U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. QCIA allocated $2.8 million per year for five years through BIL, helping to cover a majority of the $18 million cost of this phase without increasing airline rates and charges.
