Milwaukee airport seeking bids for potential international concourse

Mitchell International Airport is seeking bids to demolish and construct a new concourse and international terminal building that will be attached to the main terminal.

The airport has four requests for proposals available for contractors to bid on. One for the demolition of concourse E, one for the development of “new concourse E,” one on boarding bridges and another on fueling.

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The work includes excavation, demolition, construction, fueling system work and installation of passenger boarding bridges.

Harold Mester, director of public affairs and marketing, said “Nothing is imminent at this time.”

“The project was largely designed five years ago, but was delayed due to our revenues being down during the pandemic,” Mester said in an email. “Since then, costs have increased and we are seeking a federal grant. Any potential federal funding won’t be announced until next year. But we are being proactive so that we are ready to go if funding becomes available.”

The international concourse construction was originally scheduled for January 2021. Since the delay, costs have risen from $55 million to roughly $85 million, airport director Brian Dranzik said in March.

Also in March, the airport was awarded a $5.1 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The funding came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.