Chicago’s Midway Airport is about to get a major upgrade, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office has released the outline of plans to spend as much as $250 million on infrastructure and concession changes.
Officials have announced an expansion plan which will feature an expansion of concession facilities, security checkpoints and the terminal parking garage.
Chicago Sun-Times posted renderings of new parking facilities and cited the mayor’s office claiming about 1,700 construction and concession jobs would be created from the new project. Furthermore, the airport is expected to get a new 80,000-sq. ft. security checkpoint and could add as much as 20,000 sq. ft. of new retail space, Crain’s Chicago said.
“These enhancements will create jobs for Chicago’s residents, provide an improved experience for travelers from the garage to the gate, and ensure that our world-class city has two world-class airports,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement.
Under the project, stores and restaurants will be renovated and shopping, dining, lounge facilities, spa services and medical services will be added.
This project will be the largest investment at Midway Airport in nearly a decade, valued at about $250 million, officials said.
The timeline for all this work is not yet clear, but Crain’s reported a request for proposals to run the airport’s concessions likely will be issued next month.