Durango, CO: Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) held a groundbreaking ceremony on April 25 to mark the initiation of construction on Phase 1A of its terminal development project.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by members of the Durango City Council, La Plata County Board of Commissioners, Southern Ute Tribal Council, and the Airport Commission. The event formally kicks off a $7 million project which will add one airline boarding gate and seating area, new and expanded public restrooms, family restrooms and a nursing room, and food and beverage concessions. The project also relocates electrical and data utilities, upgrades an emergency generator, and serves as a critical enabling project ahead of a larger Phase 1B of construction planned for 2024.
"We are excited to break ground on this important project,” said Aviation Director Tony Vicari. “As a gateway and first impression to Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the entire Four Corners region, DRO must provide appropriately sized and modern infrastructure to support the growing demand for air service in our community. Passenger traffic at DRO has more than doubled over the past 20 years, and the terminal facilities are feeling the pressure of this growth.”
The Phase 1A project is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. Construction will be phased to ensure that airport and airline operations are uninterrupted throughout the project.
"This project is intended to help DRO grow along with a quickly evolving airline industry and a growing region,” said Vicari. “As demand for air service in our community increases, we must ensure that our regional airport can accommodate a larger airline fleet and more passengers.”
The terminal development program at DRO is being funded through a mix of airport revenues and available federal and state infrastructure grants. No local tax funding will be utilized.
About Durango-La Plata County Airport
Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) is the primary regional airport for Southwest Colorado, Northwest New Mexico, and the entire Four Corners region. DRO welcomed 367,000 total passengers in 2022 and contributes over $290 million annually to the regional economy. DRO is served by two major U.S. airlines (American and United), offering year-round daily nonstop routes to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), and Phoenix (PHX), and seasonally to Houston (IAH).
DRO operates as an enterprise fund of the City of Durango and generates self-sustaining revenue from airport tenants and users in the form of airline rent and landing fees, terminal concessions, ground leases, and parking fees. The airport does not receive any local tax funding.
Learn more about the Durango-La Plata County Airport at FlyDurango.com. Follow us on social media at twitter.com/DROAirport and facebook.com/DROAirport
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Media Contact
Tony Vicari
Aviation Director
Phone: (970) 382-6052
Email: Tony.Vicari@Durangogov.org
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