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Portland International Airport is the gateway into the city for many travelers, so construction of new facilities there is naturally going to garner a lot of attention.

Momentum is growing for PDX Next 鈥� a suite of large projects to renovate and expand one of the most popular airports in the United States.

鈥淲e like to say it’s the airport you know and love, but even better,鈥� said Kama Simonds, spokeswoman for the Port of Portland.

The 830-foot-long expansion of Concourse E was designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects and is the most prominent PDX Next project. Future ones will include construction of larger security checkpoints, refurbishment of ticketing and baggage drop spaces, and the addition of rental car space. Additionally, concourses A and B will be remodeled. Work is expected to continue through at least 2024.

An important milestone was reached on the $215 million Concourse E expansion last month, when ironworkers from REFA Steel Erectors topped out the two-story structure. Work has since continued at a rapid pace as general contractor Skanska USA Building strives to turn the project over to the Port of Portland by June 2020.

So far, the project team has used over 1,400 tons of steel and 6,000 cubic yards of concrete 鈥� totals that continue to increase, Skanska senior project manager Ryan Richards said.

Recent work has involved framing, fireproofing, glazing and roofing, Simonds said.

鈥淭he base material is DensDeck and Blueskin,鈥� Port of Portland construction inspector Frank Schmidt added. 鈥淭hey’re doing a fantastic job. The teamwork between the port and Skanska has been phenomenal 鈥� it’s been fantastic, and it’s always great when you get in that situation where you’re building on one another’s strengths.鈥�

So, what’s next at PDX?

鈥淭he next phase you’ll see after Concourse E is you’ll start to see work on Concourse B, and by this fall we’re going to get rid of (Concourse) A,鈥� Simonds said. 鈥淲e’re going to make some pretty significant changes to relocate the Horizon airline operations into a much better space, because everyone can agree (Concourse) A is not your best experience here at PDX.鈥�