Charleston International Airport's new garage project progresses quickly

Charleston International Airport is making progress on its new parking garage. The garage is expected to be fully built by summer 2025. It will be a six-level structure that covers 2.4 million square feet and is part of a $348 million project. Construction began in September, and the completion date has already been moved up to spring 2027. John Williams, the director of capital projects, mentioned that changes to the construction plan allowed work to move faster. The original plan included keeping part of the site open for parking, but now the builders can work more efficiently. This adjustment is estimated to save between $2 million and $4 million. The new garage will hold about 7,700 vehicles, making it the largest parking facility at the airport. It will use significant amounts of materials, including over 94,000 tons of rebar and 11,500 loads of concrete. The garage will also feature a new rental-car hub. This aims to improve the current complex setup for travelers. In 2024, the airport saw over 6.2 million passengers, reflecting a 15 percent increase from the previous year. Given the expected growth in passenger traffic, building the new garage has been a top priority. Although the economy parking lot has closed, the airport still offers parking in other areas at a daily rate of $13. Travelers are encouraged to allow extra time to find parking and be prepared for detours during the construction.