Phase 2 of upgrades at ILM will see new curb front, parking deck, and lots constructed
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Construction at Wilmington International Airport is well into its second phase now.
The canopy over the entrance, along with the old curbside, has been removed, with a temporary curbside set up away from the front of the terminal.
In its place, a new 6-lane curbside, large parking deck, and new parking lots will be built, along with an underground tunnel that will take passengers under the road and up into the terminal.
An enclosed walkway connects the existing parking lots and temporary curbside to the terminal.
Airport director Jeff Bourk said these upgrades are necessary due to the airport’s rapid growth.
“Cause it was designed in 1990 for 200,000 passengers,” Bourk said. “By the end of this year, we’ll be doing 1.8 million and we need a much bigger curbfront, so that’s the main driver of this project is to have more room for dropoffs, pick-ups. But at the same time, we’re expanding the parking facilities, putting in a new parking deck, improving the rental car facilities.”
Bourk said construction on this phase will be completed in the spring of 2027, which will more than double the airport’s parking.
And if you’re traveling via the airport this week and you see a fire, don’t worry.
It’s all part of the airport fire department’s annual fire drills.
Starting Tuesday and going through the rest of the week, the fire department will be practicing a variety of firefighting methods, from using the water cannons on the trucks to deal with a tire or engine fire, to entering and fighting a fire inside a mock-up airplane.
Airport Fire Chief Scotson Jenkins said this training is always important to keep the department ready for anything.
“It utilizes all of the skills we learn, from our initial training up to the preparation of an actual incident at an airport,” Jenkins said. “It’s more so not if but when so we have to make sure that we’re on top of our game when we do run an incident such as what we’re preparing for.”
Jenkins said the rest of the week will focus on fighting fires inside the airplane.
