BY GRACELYN GIESE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport received $5,000,000 in funding in March which will be used for advancing safety.
The funding is part of $260 million in support for over 80 community-driven projects in the state, allocated through bipartisan funding packages.
While these projects cover a wide range of issues, they are mainly focused on advancing safety, which is what Austin Straubel airport will be working towards.
Marty Piette, airport director of Austin Straubel, said that the two main focal points for funding usage will be the replacement and upgrade of passenger boarding bridges and improvement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system within the terminal.
Currently, the 12 passenger boarding bridges at the airport are approaching 20 years of usage, and Piette said that the replacement and upgrading of these aging bridges will allow for “more accessibility from an ADA perspective.”
Piette stated that the current HVAC system includes “some pretty old equipment,” and a new setup will “provide better energy efficiency.”
This is in alignment with Austin Straubel’s goals to “continue [their] stewardship of the environment,” which also includes “upgrading and retrofitting for LED lighting with more energy efficiency and using motion sensors.”
Over the past two years, the airport has been making a series of improvements to its facility, grounds and airfield.
Last year, the airport improved its short-term parking and a portion of its long-term parking.
“Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport is an economic driver in our community, providing transportation options for local businesses as well as leisure travelers, while also helping support businesses like hotels, restaurants, gas stations and tourism attractions. Investments and upgrades to our facilities and operations benefits all of us,” said Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Executive.
Travelers do not need to worry about how construction will affect their flights.
Piette noted that construction “will not have an impact” and the airport has the capability to “move flights around” to ensure smooth travels. However, those traveling through the airport will notice “more accessibility and better lighting.”
Work is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
But to ensure travels go as smoothly as possible, Piette recommends allowing “an additional 15 to 20 minutes” onto planned flight arrival times during the construction period.