The Jacksonville Aviation Authority held a groundbreaking May 10 for the long-awaited and delayed Concourse B at Jacksonville International Airport.
The event also was for the bypass taxiway and an additional parking garage near the terminal within walking distance that will provide several thousand more spaces.
Representatives from JAA, the city of Jacksonville, the Florida Department of Transportation and U.S. Congress attended to celebrate the $344 million project.
Work on Concourse B will start in July and is scheduled to be completed by December 2026, according to David Jones, JAA’s director of engineering and facilities.
The city issued a permit May 8 for Concourse B. The Federal Aviation Administration greenlit the development May 10 following the completion of its environmental inspection.
Balfour Beatty Construction LLC of Orlando is the construction manager at risk for the six-gate expansion that comprises a three-level, 186,733-square-foot project at 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive in North Jacksonville.
Jacobs Engineering is the lead design engineer and Jacksonville-based RS&H Inc. is the subcontractor for the architectural portion.
The concourse will comprise 118,000 square feet of second-floor space, a 20,000-square-foot mezzanine and ground-level enclosed space. It will include more restaurants and amenities for passengers.
“The opening of the concourse is a sign of growth. It’s a sign of innovation,” said JAA board Chair Michelle Barnett. “Jacksonville is on the move.”
Passenger traffic at JIA hit a record in March because of spring break travelers and The Players Championship tourism, JAA Chief Executive Officer Mark VanLoh said March 25.
Mayor Donna Deegan said that with an increase in business and leisure travel, combined with growth in net migration, the airport will see more travelers and opportunities.
“As Jacksonville grows, our airport will be growing along with it,” she said. “I, for one, cannot wait to fly out of Concourse B. Let’s go do this.”
American Airlines will lease five of Concourse B’s six gates, relocating from Terminal C, according to an airport spokesperson.
American Airlines JIA Station Manager Traci Brown declined to comment on the move.
Jones said that while work continues on Concourse B, restaurants at the entrance of Concourse B, including Starbucks, Firehouse Subs and Sbarro, will close.
He said during that time the newly opened Angie’s Subs, a second Southern Grounds, the reopened and expanded wine bar Vino Volo and the renovated Chili’s, which will open in the third quarter, should suffice
A request for proposals for retail and restaurant tenants in the terminal will be issued later, according to Tony Cugno, JIA chief operating officer.
Construction on the $100 million, 2,000-space daily parking garage will start this summer and is scheduled to be completed in June 2026, six months before the terminal is opened, Jones said.
The design of the garage is 40% complete, he said. It will be west of the existing daily garage and hourly garages.
A new economy surface lot will open Memorial Day weekend, adding 300 parking spaces, Jones said.
Work to develop Concourse B has been in the works for years, stalled by the Great Recession, the coronavirus pandemic and the FAA-required environmental assessment.
U.S. Rep Aaron Bean was enthusiastic about the partnerships, including the JAA, FDOT and the teams managing the design and construction that came together to make Concourse B happen.
“Northeast Florida, put your seats in the upright position and stow those tray tables because with the addition of Concourse B, Jacksonville International Airport is clear to really take off,” he said.