Lambert Airport secures $3.1M in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades ahead of terminal expansion

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell presented a ceremonial check Tuesday for more than $3.1 million in federal Community Project Funding during an announcement at Lambert International Airport.

Airport officials said the money will help build a new central utility plant and west electrical substation. The existing plant was built in 1956, when the terminal first opened, and is near the end of its life.

Funding tied to broader modernization effort

Officials said the infrastructure upgrades will support plans for the Consolidated Terminal Program, a proposed 64-gate terminal, and the airport’s long-term growth.

Lambert Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge told First Alert 4 the central utility plant is one of the most critical enabling projects required for the terminal to move forward.

“It won’t necessarily speed it up, but it is a key piece to ensure that we can move forward,” Hamm-Niebruegge said. “That is a key component of not only the sustainability of this airport, but the future of the airport.”

Hamm-Niebruegge said the utility plant design is currently at 60% completion, with 90% design expected by fall. The project will then go out for a construction bid.

“A strong airport isn’t just about transportation, about a transportation hub. It’s an economic engine. It is how companies decide whether to locate here. It is how workers get the opportunities to live here. It’s how St. Louis signals to the rest of the country and the world that we are open for business and ready to compete,” Bell said.

Officials said the upgrades may not be visible to travelers but are critical to powering the future terminal. Local leaders said continued upgrades at Lambert could also bring economic benefits, including potential job growth for nearby hotels and businesses.

St. Louis leaders have spent years discussing ways to modernize Lambert and position the airport to compete with others in the region. Officials in other cities, including Kansas City and Springfield, have recently invested heavily in their own airport improvements.