Airport to expand parking lot

Glacier Park International Airport plans to expand the main airport parking lot by more than 30 percent, adding 224 new spaces to the existing 660 spaces, the airport announced Thursday.

Knife River will begin the work in mid-September.

The parking expansion will adjoin the current parking lot and extend east to Glacier Airport Road. Airport Director Rob Ratkowski said he believes Flathead Valley residents will benefit most from the improvements.

“In the last two years, we’ve had to use our overflow lot with increasing regularity,” Ratkowski said. “Unfortunately, area residents are most impacted because they’re the ones leaving a vehicle for several days. We know that no one enjoys searching for a parking spot or walking from the overflow lot with luggage so we are increasing parking to help alleviate those challenges. It’s a great way to make the airport experience more convenient for our local travelers.”

The project, funded by local airport operating revenues, will cost an estimated $530,000 and will take approximately 30 days to complete. In addition to the parking lot expansion, Glacier Park International Airport also will install a parking self-pay station in the baggage claim area of the airport terminal. The station will allow travelers to pay parking fees inside and avoid lines at pay stations in the parking lot, making for a quicker and more convenient exit.

Airport officials anticipate minimal impacts for those using the airport during parking lot construction. However, due to the high volume of passengers in early fall, travelers departing from Glacier Park International Airport are encouraged to arrive two hours prior to their departure.