Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to get millions from infrastructure bill

PHOENIX — Millions of federal dollars for repairs and upgrades are headed to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in the East Valley thanks to the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law this month.

The airport will likely get $22.6 million over the next five years, according to U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s office, at a time when it’s experiencing record-setting commercial passenger growth.

Mesa Mayor John Giles, who was at the White House signing ceremony for the infrastructure bill, said the federal dollars will help modernize and expand the airport.

“We’ll be adding additional gates there because we’ve had, frankly, a record year since this summer in commercial airline travel at that airport,” Giles said.

The airport currently has 10 gates. Other improvements include replacing four aging portable gates that were installed on a temporary basis in 2007. There will be an indoor walkway that connects those gates to the other terminal.

Giles said the improvements to the airport are among “the first thing you’re going to notice where we say this was paid for by this infrastructure bill.”

He added his city will also get infrastructure funding for a variety of other projects, ranging from upgrading roads to adding more electric vehicle charging stations.

Passengers who use the airport can already see some improvement projects underway, such as a new air traffic control tower that is 65 feet taller than the current one.

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