Augusta Regional Airport has received a $3 million grant from the Airport Terminal Program to enclose the east end of the terminal building, which will add about 2,000 square feet to the space.

The project also will require two new passenger boarding bridges, which cost $3 million, that connect directly to the airplane door.

The money comes at a time when the airport is beginning a $5 million expansion around gates three and four, which date back to the time that Augusta was serviced by airlines using propeller planes and passengers walked to the terminal building.

Terminal construction is expected to begin in mid-summer. The completion is targeted for the first quarter of 2024.

In addition, the airport recently unveiled its first electric charging stations, which were installed in partnership with BETA Technologies and Georgia Power.

One charging station is located inside the airfield fence to enable aircraft charging, while three dual-port chargers for electric ground vehicles are located in the short-term and general aviation parking lots. The airport is the first in Georgia to install these charging stations.