The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport began a $350 million project in the fall of 2016 to add nine gates to the airport—bringing the total number to 34—in an effort to accommodate the steadily increasing number of passengers flying through Austin, according to airport officials.

On Feb. 21, after more than two years of work on the project, ABIA debuted phase one of its expansion to the public.

In 2018, the airport set a new record with 15.8 million passengers flying through ABIA, an increase of 1.9 million from the previous year. That number is more than the airport was designed to handle. Lyn Estabrook, Planning and Development manager for ABIA, told Community Impact Newspaper in September that prior to the expansion project, the existing terminal could accommodate 11 million passengers annually.

The first phase of the expansion includes the opening of the new terminal building and operation of north-facing gates for arrivals and departures. According to an ABIA spokesperson, construction is ongoing for individual concessions and restaurants planned for the terminal.

Phase two of the expansion will open by the end of the year, according to ABIA, and will include the removal of temporary jet bridges to allow for pavement improvements around the south gates to make those gates operational for arrivals and departures.

By 2030, officials at ABIA plan to add a separate terminal running parallel to the current Barbara Jordan Terminal, which will add 20 gates. Estabrook told Community Impact Newspaper in November that she expects ABIA to be able to handle 31 million passengers annually by 2040 with the addition of 32 more gates.

The nine-gate expansion project was funded by airport revenue and bonds. According to airport officials, the total project adds nearly 175,000 square feet of space, which includes the concourse, apron level for baggage handling, the mezzanine and an outdoor terrace. The project also expands the paved area around the terminal for airplanes to take off and land by 48 acres.

Find more information here on ABIA’s long-term expansion plans.