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An artist’s rendering of the remodeled Concourse C at McCarran International Airport.
Saturday, May 28, 2011 | 1:55 a.m.
An artist's rendering of the remodeled Concourse C at McCarran International Airport.
McCarran International Airport’s C Concourse is about to get a makeover.
Work on the 26-year-old facility began in July with the replacement of asphalt ramp surfaces on the east side of the concourse, and as work shifts to a second phase, an interior rehabilitation project is getting under way.
The initial phase of work required the closure of gates C-1 to C-7. Those gates are expected to reopen Tuesday as the work outside shifts to the west and gates C-8 through C-18 are closed.
At the same time, crews will begin working inside the concourse to upgrade the area around those gates.
“Even the best facilities wear down over time, and these exterior ramp repairs make this a perfect opportunity to make interior improvements that will better serve the needs of our customers,” Randall Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation, said in a statement.
After the next phase is completed in the fall, work will move north with a final round of gate closures before the entire project is finished next year.
The $13 million interior renovation will give the concourse new ceiling panels, lighting, energy-efficient window tinting, and new heating, air conditioning and signs. The bathrooms will be upgraded and the jet bridges refurbished.
In addition, one of the gates in the concourse will be removed to make room for a new Asian restaurant and a retail store, providing additional concessions for more than 10 million people who use the facility each year.
The C Concourse is the primary home of Southwest Airlines, the busiest carrier at the airport. Until the project is complete, some Southwest flights will be using the B Concourse, so travelers should double check gate assignments rather than just heading straight for the C gates.
Work on the interior of the concourse is being timed to match the exterior work and will be occurring during evening hours to minimize the impact on travelers.
The interior project is being funded with airport revenue rather than local tax dollars. The $29.3 million exterior work is being paid for with airport revenue and a $15.7 million Federal Aviation Administration grant.
The two projects will employ up to 120 local workers at their peak, airport officials said.
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