The construction to expand Knoxville, Tenn.'s McGhee Tyson Airport is preparing to "go vertical" as crews have finished laying the groundwork for its upcoming parking garage and terminal roadway expansion project, WBIR-TV in Knoxville reported Oct. 16, 2025.
The news station learned that the parking structure's piers have been laid and half of the foundation is now secured after nearly a year of work at the airport.
WBIR-TV previously reported that the construction was running behind due to weather and ground issues. The $190 million project was set to be completed in early 2027 but is now projected to be finished later that spring.
Once completed, the project will deliver a six-story, 3,500-space parking garage to the airport. Officials with the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA) noted that due to the fast rate of growth at the facility, providing more parking is vital.
The structure's design draws inspiration from east Tennessee and will be a prominent feature at the airport, according to an MKAA news release.
Messer Construction in Knoxville is the general contractor in charge of expanding and renovating the airport.
Crews Replacing 25-Year-Old Escalators
In late August, the airport authority noted that construction was officially under way inside the Knoxville airport terminal on its Escalator Replacement Project.
This phase of the project was designed to maintain and modernize the facility for the millions of passengers traveling through the airport each year. Both escalators are being replaced, MKAA said on its website, with an expected completion by December.
The reason for replacing the current escalators is simple: they first went into service in 2001 and from then until this past summer they had moved more than 25 million passengers.
"While they've served us well, it's time for an upgrade that ensures a smoother, more reliable experience for our travelers in the years ahead," MKAA said in a project update.
During the replacement effort, one or both escalators may be closed as the work progresses, but passengers can access nearby elevators and staircases. In addition, for those travelers with large luggage or who need wheelchair assistance, the best way to enter the terminal is via the second-floor departures level where airline ticket counters are located.
MKAA's ‘Flight Plan' Program Outlines Upgrades
The MKAA officially broke ground on Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport's parking garage expansion and Terminal Roadway Improvement Project on Nov. 7, 2024. At the same event, airport authority leaders announced the launch of Flight Plan, a major expansion and renovation program designed to accommodate the significant passenger growth at the airport.
Flight Plan is a decade-long growth and development blueprint to elevate the airport's footprint by adding gates and concessions, renovating restrooms and security checkpoints and replacing the escalators — all designed to improve the passenger experience by ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey from parking to boarding.
When complete, the hope is that the upscaled airport also will attract more air service to east Tennessee.
"We couldn't be more excited for the future of McGhee Tyson Airport and air travel in our region. Flight Plan will help us grow in a smart and thoughtful way," said Patrick W. Wilson A.A.E. and MKAA president during last year's project groundbreaking.
"The current terminal was built to accommodate approximately 2.6 million passengers annually. Projections now indicate more than 3.5 million passengers will travel through [the airport] by 2027," he said. "Because of this record-breaking growth, we developed a forward-looking plan that strengthens our capacity and amenities while ensuring McGhee Tyson remains the convenient community airport passengers know and love."
The current work to expand McGhee Tyson's parking facilities and make terminal roadway improvements is the first of many projects ahead under the Flight Plan program.
Beyond the larger parking garage and the air terminal roadway upgrades, plans call for the expansion of the airport's concourse gates, concourse seating, ticket counters, concessions and TSA security checkpoint area.
"While Flight Plan is charting the course for the future of travel at McGhee Tyson Airport, we are equally focused on ensuring that our passengers and the community are minimally impacted by the construction," Wilson said. "We will provide clear and consistent communication with the goal of making sure our travelers can enjoy the same easy and efficient airport experience they've come to expect at McGhee Tyson."
