TRAVERSE CITY — Construction is officially underway on a major expansion of Michigan’s third-largest airport, as Cherry Capital Airport officials formally broke ground on their $120 million “Gates to the Future” terminal addition.
Almost 150 people turned out for Friday’s soggy groundbreaking ceremony, including business and tourism professionals from across the region, numerous local officials, state officials and Congressional staffers. TVC officials said the large crowd underscored the airport’s role as a regional transportation facility for northern Michigan and its estimated $1 billion annual impact on the area economy.
“This is not a Traverse City airport — this is an airport that affects all of our communities in northern Michigan,” said Paul Beachnau of Gaylord, chairman of the Northwest Regional Airport Authority board. “I’ve always said that the best projects are when local, state and federal governments work together, and that’s what I’ve seen in this project from the get-go.”
The terminal addition, slated for completion in the spring of 2028, will add more than 100,000 square feet of passenger holding area and connector space at the airport. It includes four new airline gates, with a fifth gate planned for late 2028 or ‘29. The work will include a new connector building linking the new gate area with the existing terminal, an additional lounge and concession area, upgrades to its security checkpoint, new passenger boarding bridges and an expanded apron area to accommodate additional aircraft at the new gates.
The work is being partially financed through a $71 million bond sale backed by the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners in December. The total construction cost of the project is estimated at up to $120 million, with various federal and state grant dollars also budgeted for the project. Airport CEO Kevin Klein said the state will provide around $3 million in matching funds to the approximately $54 million in federal funding lined up for the project over the next two years. The airport also hopes to secure some $5 million annually over the next three years in funding from the state budget.
“That’s what we’re negotiating for,” Klein said.
Some of the work is already evident as work crews from M & M Excavating in Gaylord started the grading, storm sewer installation and related infrastructure work associated with the expanded apron, a major portion of the project totaling close to $40 million. Foundation work will begin in the next two weeks, Klein said, as construction crews will work from east to west on the new terminal as it merges toward the existing facility that opened in 2004.
“In about two weeks, they’ll be fully at it,” Klein said.
The Christman Company based in Lansing is the lead contractor for the project, and was awarded a contract of more than $74 million by the airport board last month. Officials said approximately 20 subcontractors will be involved with the project — including several local firms — generating around 150 construction jobs during the two-year build-out window.
Other speakers Friday included state Representatives John Roth and Ken Borton, and state Sen. John Damoose. Congressional staff members were also on hand from First District Congressman Jack Bergman and Michigan U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin.