The Milwaukee Post

6 • Milwaukee County Post • May 9, 2014 Mitchell Airport undergoing major renovation By RICH ROVITO Special to The Post MILWAUKEE – The next phase of an extensive renovation of the baggage claim area at Gen. Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee is having a profound effect on traffic as a heavily used roadway has become off-limits to motorists picking up passengers. The baggage claim roadway has been closed to all vehicles except shuttles and buses as part of the ongoing $45 million con- struction project that began in fall 2013. The project includes the com- plete replacement of the existing baggage claim facility. "We are taking it down to the bones and rebuilding it," airport spokesman Harold Mester said. With the next phase of the project underway, airport users likely will experience some dis- ruptions, he added. Traffic is being detoured off of the roadway that has provided access to the baggage claim area. Arriving passengers are being directed to use exits behind the escalators opposite from the usual exit to the baggage claim roadway. Drivers can meet passengers at designated passenger pickup areas on what now has become a shared roadway serving the tick- eting and baggage claim areas. Airport operators are suggest- ing that motorists use the hourly parking lot, where free parking has been extended to one hour from 30 minutes. "That's really the easiest way to do this since at peak traffic times we are experiencing traffic issues," Mester said. Drivers who choose not to use hourly parking should expect delays. "The shared roadway will be congested. Circling around the airport while waiting for arriving passengers will be frustrating for drivers," Interim Airport Director Terry Blue said. "Our best advice is to use hourly park- ing instead. It is much easier and you won't run the risk of receiv- ing a parking violation." Additional signs and staff have been added to assist drivers and arriving passengers. Inside the building, two of the five baggage carousels have been taken out of service as work on the facility continues. One of the carousels likely will be reopened by July, the other later this year, Mester said. "The building will have a total- ly new look and feel for passen- gers," he said. A glass skylight that will extend the length of the building is being constructed to allow more light into the facility and give it a more open feel, Mester added. A glass-walled canopy that will extend across the baggage claim roadway also is being installed. The temporary road closure will allow construction crews to erect the canopy as well replace the existing roadway and curbs. The building also will feature an environmentally friendly "green" roof. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification will be sought for the facility, Mester said. Construction of the revamped baggage claim area is expected to be completed by late summer of 2015. The traffic detour now in place will remain until early next year, Mester said. Portions of the baggage claim facility date back to the 1950s, when the existing airport termi- nal opened, Mester said. "This is a badly needed renova- tion," he said. "The baggage claim is one of the first things most pas- sengers see. We want to make a good first impression." The cost of the baggage claim project is being covered through airport user fees and won't involve any taxpayer dollars, he said. Passengers soon will notice another major change at Mitchell when the new in-line baggage screening project is completed. A 41,000-square-foot building has been constructed behind the existing passenger check-in area in order to accommodate new bag- gage screening equipment. The equipment currently is being test- ed and should be fully operational this summer, Mester said. The project, which had an ini- tial cost estimate of $30 million, will allow airport operators to remove the screening equipment currently in the lobby of the tick- eting area that often impedes the flow of passengers. The equip- ment, used by Transportation Security Administration employ- ees to examine passengers' lug- gage, has been in place since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. The project will allow airline ticket counter employees to place a passenger's checked luggage on a conveyor, which will transport it into the new building for screen- ing and loading onto aircraft. Under the current setup, passen- gers take their checked luggage from the ticket counter for screen- ing by Transportation Security Administration personnel. *** The search for a new airport director also continues, as Milwaukee County, which oper- ates Mitchell, seeks a replace- ment for longtime director Barry Bateman, who retired earlier this year. The appointment of a new director will be made by County Executive Chris Abele. Bateman served as director at Mitchell for 31 years. Outdated baggage claim area being completely replaced Submitted illustrations Above: The exterior and interiors of the baggage claim areas at Gen. Mitchell International Airport are undergoing major renovations as part of $45 million construc- tion project that began in the fall of 2013. Photos by Don Weltzien/Special to The Post Amid construction equipment, a sign at Mitchell Field directs traffic for both baggage claims and ticketing check-in to use the same terminal access area. This has caused abnormal congestion at peak travel times. The check-in area of Mitchell Field is under construction. Both dropoff and pickup is being done at the baggage claim gates until construction is completed.

• Cover