Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Work on some major upgrades to the Rochester International Airport is scheduled to get underway next week. Kraus Anderson is the general contractor for the $12 million project, which is expected to take about a year to complete.

The plans include centralized ticketing counters, a consolidated baggage claims area and an improved and enlarged area for U.S. Customs operations. The most visible work will take place in the main terminal lobby, where all of the ticketing counters will be relocated to one side of the terminal, while the baggage claims area will moved to the other side. Officials say the project is not expected to cause any disruptions in airport’s operations.

The improvements have been planned for years, but winning state funding proved to be a challenge and the city decided last year to move forward using $3.8 million from the city’s sales tax transportation fund while continuing to ask for state bonding money. Most of the cost, $7.3 million, is being covered by a federal grant and almost $800,000 was provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Construction will begin next Monday, while a groundbreaking ceremony will take place on April 19.

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