Construction is underway on improvements at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) that will help passengers get through security more quickly.
The work is the terminal checkpoint modernization project. It will change the existing two-lane Transportation Security Administration checkpoint initially to three lanes with the ability to add a fourth lane.
“We are reorienting the lines in a different direction, and with that, we’re able to add two extra lines, so we will start out at the end of this project with three full security lines with the potential to expand to four,” Elizabeth Giles, Senior Production Manager at the airport, told ABD. “This project will take us well into the future to support more airlines and more gates.”
She said the new checkpoint will change the current configuration in the terminal building.
“It’ll be a little larger. You’ll still see the glass wall that customers are used to seeing,” she said. “However, the lines will orient towards the hold room now and towards the gates, so it’ll be very different, and it’ll be very modern and very updated and beautiful finishes.”
Although the work will not be complete, the goal is to have construction far enough along to make the new lines available for the influx of passengers for the 2026 Masters Tournament.
“We’ll definitely have the lanes functioning and installed. As the public goes, it will still give us extra lines for Masters,” she said, adding it will also benefit passengers using the second non-stop flight to Dallas-Fort Worth that American Airlines is adding.
“It is also an advantage when we do talk to other airlines and have interest there that we have the infrastructure coming that can support the extra traffic, and of course, for Masters, it’s going to have huge impacts,” she said.
The total cost of the project is just over $5.7 million. The airport received an Airport Terminal Program (ATP) grant of $4 million to help pay for the project.
When the funds were awarded, Herbert Judon, Jr., airport Executive Director, told ABD the money became available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021.
“It was a competitive grant. We were awarded that grant last fall, and the $4 million is for the terminal checkpoint expansion project,” he explained.
The airport also received $1 million from the Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program.
“We get an entitlement every year from the federal government based on the amount of traffic we get here. But this AIG is a double entitlement. We get an additional amount of money, and we’re using that toward the checkpoint expansion as well,” said Judon.
Upgrading the security checkpoints is one of the top priorities identified in the airport’s master plan for future development. Another step in that phase is the enlargement of passenger lounges. Priority two calls for improvements to the airline check-in desks and waiting areas, as well as modifications to outbound baggage screening and inbound baggage claims.
The plan also includes adding a two-story addition to the north side of the existing terminal building.
