Massport Board Approves Construction for NewSecurity Checkpoint at Logan’s Terminal C
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today approved $30 million to construct a centralized security checkpoint at Boston Logan International Airport’s Terminal C. The project will consolidate the existing checkpoints located at the piers on either end of the terminal that house United Airlines, JetBlue, Midwest and Cape Air, and make it easier for Terminal C passengers to connect to other flights because it eliminates the need for additional screening.
“By consolidating the existing checkpoints and increasing to 14 the number of new lanes, we hope to alleviate the longer than acceptable delays in passenger screening that often occurs during peak travel times,” said Edward C. Freni, Aviation Director for the Massachusetts Port Authority. The current checkpoints have 5 lanes each. “We have been carefully monitoring the wait times at lanes, and working with the Transportation Security Administration to develop this 21st century solution for a terminal built in the 1960s.’’
The consolidated checkpoint will be located behind the JetBlue check-in counters. The project also calls for the construction of a new post security corridor that will link the United Airlines and JetBlue gate areas. The new corridor will be constructed over the existing bag room area to create a connection that will provide screened passengers greater flexibility when making connecting flights. The bag room was built in 2002 as part of Logan’s 100 percent checked bag screening program, and was designed to allow a second level to be built over the bag room. The new checkpoint will also accommodate the scheduled release of new larger TSA checkpoint screening equipment.
Once the consolidation project is complete, the existing checkpoints will be dismantled and the areas reorganized to increase hold room area and to accommodate the airport’s growing retail and food concession program. Many of the concessions that are currently before security will have their entrances changed so access will be available only after security.
Construction is set to begin the fall of 2009 with completion in the fall of 2010. In the meantime, an additional JetBlue checkpoint lane will be added by taking space from the passenger hold area at Gate 25.
Boston Logan, 15 minutes from Routes 128/90 and 5 minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 71 domestic and 31 international destinations and in 2008 handled 26.1 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, more than $4.4 billion has been spent building new terminals, parking facilities – including a cell phone lot, roadways, airfield improvements and airport concessions, all of which has transformed the airport into a world-class 21st Century facility and the airport of choice for all of New England.