Southwest Florida Airport Kicks Off $1.1B Expansion as Second Phase Costs Jump

Construction started on a huge $1.1 billion upgrade at Southwest Florida International Airport, making it one of the biggest building projects in the country this year.

The project will help handle 10,000 to 15,000 more passengers daily by 2035 — a 50% jump. A new section, Concourse E, will initially have 14 gates. It has plans to grow to a total of 33 gates.

Passenger numbers hit over 11 million in 2024, climbing 9.5% from the previous year. The winter season broke records with 1.1 million travelers passing through in December alone.

Unexpected building issues have driven up costs in the first phase. The original $330 million estimate has shot up to $678 million after workers discovered structural issues.

Once completed, the expanded area will include 37,000 square feet of retail space and an updated security checkpoint. The project should be done by late 2027.

Looking at major U.S. construction projects starting in 2024, this ranks among the biggest. Only Detroit's $2.2 billion hospital tower and Louisiana's $1.6 billion gas pipeline are larger.

The airport brings $8 billion yearly to local communities. This impact is likely to grow as Lee County's population approaches 1 million by 2030.