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Tampa International Airport breaks ground on expansion project

 
Thursday morning's groundbreaking celebration at Tampa International Airport included a 24-square-foot cake. [CHERIE DIEZ   |   Times]
Thursday morning's groundbreaking celebration at Tampa International Airport included a 24-square-foot cake. [CHERIE DIEZ | Times]
Published Nov. 21, 2014

TAMPA — The groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for Tampa International Airport's $943 million construction project marked the start of a massive transformation. It will change the way people will catch flights there, how they'll dine and entertain themselves, even how the airport will make money.

It reminded Hillsborough County Aviation Authority chairman Robert Watkins of another momentous day: April 15, 1971, when the main terminal opened.

"This is a watershed moment," Watkins said of the airport's governing board, "akin to the opening of the airport originally."

When the iconic terminal opened four decades ago, it signaled a new era for the bay area, he said. Now that airport will be expanded, modernized and upgraded to prepare it for a big future.

The airport served 3.4 million passengers in 1971. In the last fiscal year, it served 17 million. By 2033, the airport estimated, it could be handling up to 34 million passengers a year.

"I believe this (project) will take it to a new level," Watkins said, "and change everything again."

The airport expansion project is one of the most ambitious and expensive public works projects in Tampa Bay history. Its price tag is much bigger than the original terminal, which cost $85 million to build in 1971, the equivalent of $497 million in 2014 dollars.

The project will cost more than Tampa Bay's three sporting venues put together: Tropicana Field (built for $138 million in 1990, which is now $250 million); Amalie Arena ($139 million in 1996, now $210 million) and Raymond James Stadium (cost $168.5 million in 1998, which is $245 million in 2014 dollars)

The project is also being touted for its potential to create jobs and boost the local economy. It will create or preserve about 9,000 short-term construction jobs, according to the airport, jobs that would have an economic impact of up to $370 million on the area.

That's why, amid all the speeches by the politicians who helped get the project approved and funded, airport CEO Joe Lopano recognized one of those new workers. He had Richard Hudson stand up in front of the crowd of more than 500 who gathered on the top floor of the economy parking garage.

The 19-year-old Brooksville resident had been laid off by a fencemaker in August. He was out of work for two months until Cone & Graham Inc. hired him to help rebuild the Taxiway J bridge, which motorists pass under driving to the airport.

"They told me they had just gotten this big job at the airport and they needed people to work," Hudson said.

As for his new job: "Oh, man, it's great. I love it."

A week after Hudson started work, he met the CEO.

"We're making a difference for Richard Hudson, we're making a difference for thousands here," Lopano told the crowd. "That's what this airport does for this community."

Here are the broad strokes of the project: The airport will build the Tampa Gateway Center, a new 2.6-million-square-foot car rental center, south of the terminal that will be linked by a 1.4-mile automated people mover, a bigger version of the airport's shuttles.

The third-floor terminal will be gutted, expanded and renovated into a sleeker, more airy space with large outdoor terraces. All of the dining, drinking and shopping options will also be redone. There will be much more to spend money on there, which airport officials hope will generate more revenue.

The airport will pay for it by raising $689 million in new bonds, so 73 percent of the cost will be covered by new debt. The state is contributing $194 million and the airport will use $60 million in grants. The bonds will be financed by fees paid by airline passengers and increased rental car fees. Next month, work inside the terminal will begin. But major construction won't start until 2015.

During the ceremony, VIPs took turns lining up to dig shovels into a ceremonial box of dirt in front of TV cameras. Next to them sat a roughly 11-square-foot cake made to look like the airport when construction is finished in 2017. Outrageous Cakes made the impressive replica for $1,300, which was paid for by the airport.

The CEO paused his speech while a nearby airliner revved its engines. "That's the sound of money right there," Lopano said.

Contact Jamal Thalji at thalji@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3404. Follow @jthalji.