Traffic changes begin at Glacier Park International Airport

Changes to the traffic flow at Glacier Park International Airport begin Monday. 

The three lanes closest to the airport terminal will now be closed for construction, so drivers are cautioned to remain alert to signage once passing the roundabout. The closure is part of the airport’s ongoing expansion project. 

If travelers are planning on parking, they must use the left-most lane to access the paid parking lot. If dropping off or picking up, cars proceed to the frontage road — where access to the rental car lot will also be available. 

The lanes closest to the terminal will be marked for commercial vehicles only. 

The airport is in the midst of an ongoing $150 million expansion project to accommodate growing visitation. The project is expected to prepare the airport to meet projected passenger volumes for the next 20 years. 

The design provides for the addition of two restaurants, a runway viewing lounge area, and a new gate. There will also be two outdoor patio spaces, one for use as dining space and another for travelers waiting to board flights.

More than 300 additional parking spaces have already added to the parking lot. A new airplane parking apron, fire station and other equipment upgrades are in the works for the future.

Through October, year-to-date boardings were up at the airport compared with the year before. Passengers totaled 791,923 compared with the same period the year before at 739,401.