St. Paul, MN (Learfield Wire Services) -   A new 10-lane security checkpoint opening next month will make for smoother departures at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's Terminal 1.

The $17 million system will be fully operational by February 19th.

Three smaller checkpoints will be consolidated into two larger ones on the northern and southern ends of the terminal. The Transportation Security Administration and airport officials say the configuration will shorten wait times for the more than nine million passengers who pass through the terminal each year.

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