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Victoria airport parking lot expansion under way

The Victoria Airport Authority is adding another 325 parking spaces to its long-term lot.
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Crews have begun work on the $3.75 million expansion of the Victoria International Airport’s long-term parking area.

The Victoria Airport Authority is adding another 325 parking spaces to its long-term lot and they will hopefully be ready in time for the Thanksgiving travel rush.

Land to the south of the existing long-term parking area has been cleared and is being prepared for the construction and paving work, expected to be complete by October.

The work will cost an estimated $3.75 million.

James Bogusz, operations and development manager for the VAA, says there have been many times when existing parking spaces have been full, necessitating the use of overflow areas — both near and far from the main terminal.

Those times, Bogusz said, include Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter — significant holidays.

When the existing lot has filled up, vehicles are sent to a gravel and pavement lot to the east of the terminal building.

In some cases, Bogusz said travellers have been sent to park on Old Willingdon Road. When that happens, he said the VAA brings in additional parking attendant and even a shuttle service.

The new 325 spaces, he continued, will help alleviate some of that demand, adding overflow areas will always be needed.

Additional sidewalks, crosswalks and covered walkways will be part of this project, Bogusz said, as will power infrastructure upgrades for the airport.

Cyclists and pedestrians will be given a new access point at the western roundabout on Willingdon Road, as well as space to prepare bicycles for travel.

The plan also calls for a rain garden area to capture water runoff from the new expanse of pavement.

Bogusz said that feature will help control water flows off the airport property into surrounding watersheds.