Austin-Bergstrom International Airport celebrates completion of steel

City of Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) celebrated a significant milestone in the Journey With AUS airport expansion program with the completion of structural steel installation for the West Infill project. This marks the first project of the Barbara Jordan Terminal improvements to reach this stage of construction and is one of several milestones achieved by the Journey With AUS program in recent weeks.

"We're making tremendous strides in delivering a bigger, better and modern airport for Austin," said T.C. Broadnax, Austin City Manager. "With this project milestone, we're one step closer to delivering more terminal space for travelers and our partners at TSA. I'm proud of the progress the West Infill project team has made in advancing our vision of a world-class airport that serves our community and visitors alike."

"I am excited to celebrate this milestone in the West Infill project, a critical step in expanding our capacity," said Ghizlane Badawi, Chief Executive Officer at AUS. "Each step brings us closer to delivering an enhanced experience for our passengers, and I'm looking forward to seeing the continued progress as we move toward completion in early 2026."

Construction on the West Infill project began in April 2024, with completion anticipated in 2026. The project will add 75,000 square feet of space across four levels of the terminal, increasing capacity at TSA Checkpoint 3 by adding space for 6-8 additional security lanes and allowing for more ticketing counters and kiosks. Prior to construction starting, TSA Checkpoint 3, originally a two-lane Checkpoint was closed. Airport officials worked with TSA to add 2 lanes to Checkpoint 2 West ensuring no loss of TSA screening capacity or equipment despite the Checkpoint closure. This month, Airport officials further enhanced efficiency by adding another lane, bringing the total to eight lanes at Checkpoint 2 West, dedicated to processing both Precheck and Clear passengers swiftly and effectively.

Steel installation marks a critical step in completing the structural framing of the West Infill, which is a key milestone along the project's path to completion. The project will also support the second phase of AUS's new Outbound Baggage Handling System, increasing processing capabilities and system reliability for all checked luggage to meet growing passenger demand. The West Infill project's next phase will focus on enclosing the building and advancing the second phase of the Outbound Baggage Handling System.

The West Infill project is partially funded by $15.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Journey With AUS projects are funded through traditional airport improvement mechanisms-such as airport cash reserves, current and future revenues, revenue bond proceeds, and Federal Aviation Administration grants-not Austin taxpayer dollars.

Recently, the Journey With AUS program has achieved other key milestones, including the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Midfield Taxiways project and Austin City Council's approval of major procurements for the design and construction of the new Arrivals and Departures Hall, Concourse B and Tunnel projects. AUS looks forward to celebrating additional milestones as we continue work on both near and long-term improvements to enhance the passenger experience.

Travelers can stay informed on construction updates, project information, and comprehensive AUS travel tips by visiting AustinTexas.gov/AUSJourney.

For media, please click here to access pictures and videos of the steel installation.