BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority officials are working with state officials to outline an $18 million project that will see the Ogdensburg International Airport updated over the course of two years.

Officials say the plan should be finalized with state officials in November after consulting with state Department of Transportation officials.

According to OBPA Executive Director Steve Lawrence, projects are unable to begin until the grant is approved, which requires meetings with state officials to plan the next steps.

A draft agreement must be signed by both parties, the OBPA and state, before funds will be dispersed. The agreement will outline what the OBPA will commit to the projects and the scope of the work required to complete it, Lawrence said.

“When we get the fully ex agreement, we’ll have two years to complete the project,” Lawrence told the OBPA Finance Committee.

Part of the project will include a new jet bridge that will allow for additional aircraft types to utilize the airport. The project will also include customer boarding, he said.

Additional ticket counters are also expected to be part of the project, with officials saying it will allow the airport to better accommodate the current airline, as well as future airlines.

State officials say the project will also include a rental car customer service area.

Officials also outlined the terminal renovation, which will add a convention center that can be used while the airport is in operation.

Interior terminal work will include upgraded ventilation, officials say.

Officials also outlined plans to create a covered passenger pickup and drop off area, with an extended canopy over the entrance to the airport.

Additionally, security will be upgraded and will include new security doors and sprinklers and new information display systems, according to state officials.