By: Deborah Johnson Wood
The $115 million parking project at Grand Rapids-based Gerald R. Ford International Airport won't officially break ground until September, but crews are already moving the utilities in anticipation of relocating roadways. Beginning the first week of August, several sections of existing short- and long-term parking and rental car areas will be closed and relocated to make room for a new four-story, 4,900-space enclosed parking structure directly across from the terminal entrances.
Phil Johnson, deputy aeronautics director, expects the parking structure alone will run about $70 million.
"Two sky bridges will connect the parking structure to the terminal," Johnson says. "All of the roadways that come into the airport will change to accommodate the various decision points: rental car return, long-term parking, and short-term parking."
Plans include a 600-foot-long canopy between the parking structure and the terminal, a gateway plaza, elevators and escalators from the upper parking levels to the terminal's main level, and a scrolling message board displaying messages of welcome for specific groups or security messages when needed.
A three-story "welcome wall" on the outside of the parking structure will greet arrivals.
"You'll see it as you walk out of the terminal," Johnson says. "It'll have pictures about west Michigan, depicting the lakeshore, downtown Grand Rapids, Meijer gardens, things like that."
This week the airport launched a communication plan called Ramp Up!, which will assist drivers by announcing updates and information throughout the course of the project. Drivers can get the information at www.flygrandrapids.org, airport radio AM 1610, and recorded messages at 616-233-RAMP. October 2009 is the expected completion date.
Source: Phil Johnson, Gerald R. Ford International Airport; Casee N. Willoughby, Seyferth Spaulding Tennyson Inc.
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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