The Southwest Florida airport expansion is officially underway, and it’s one of the largest infrastructure projects in Lee County history. With more than $1.1 billion in total construction costs, the RSW Terminal Expansion Project aims to improve the passenger experience, ease passenger traffic, and modernize operations as one of the top U.S. airports.
Central to the project is a new concourse, Concourse E, which will add 14 gates to the main terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). The Lee County Port Authority is leading this milestone project in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
Designed to accommodate growth through 2036, the Southwest Florida airport expansion includes a new TSA Security Checkpoint with more lanes, a better layout, and an advanced baggage handling system to reduce wait times. The upgrades also feature new walkways, an expanded ticketing lobby, improved Terminal Access Road, and a larger parking lot to support increased traffic.
The first phase of the terminal building project, led by Manhattan Construction, remodeled over 164,000 square feet and added 117,000 square feet for concessions and circulation. Concourse E will bring more dining, retail, and seating space—much-needed enhancements for a rapidly growing region.
The project is being financed through multiple sources, including approximately $900 million in airport revenue bonds, federal grants, and Passenger Facility Charges.
Construction is being carried out with construction management support from Parsons Corporation and general contractor Suffolk. “Suffolk’s ability to successfully navigate complex projects and timelines without causing disruption to an airport’s ongoing operations is a testament to our meticulous planning and execution skills,” said Pete Tuffo, president of Florida Gulf Coast and National Gaming for Suffolk, in a press release. “Our unique approach helps to ensure airports remain fully functional and efficient throughout the entire construction process.”
Steven Hennigan, Executive Director and CEO of the Lee County Port Authority emphasized the importance of long-term planning to serve both local residents and the millions of tourists flying into the United States through Fort Myers. “The opening of Southwest Florida International Airport…was a historic moment for our region, with far-reaching social and economic impacts, and those continue today, with record-breaking passenger numbers during the past several decades,” he said.
“This is the largest public works project probably in the history of Lee County,” said Commissioner Brian Hamman in a recent press release. “We need to build an airport big enough to handle the passengers so we don’t find ourselves in gridlock.”
Concourse D will remain fully functional during the phased build-out of Concourse E, thanks to careful planning by Suffolk. The full Southwest Florida airport expansion project is expected to be completed by 2027, and when finished, the RSW airport will boast 38 gates, a modern East Atrium, and expanded lower-level access for streamlined departures and arrivals.
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