News 12 at 11/ February 7, 2012

AUGUSTA, GA--Augusta Regional Airport soared to a record high in 2011. It broke all of the previous passenger records.

If you have been by there lately, you have noticed a lot of construction.

So, News 12 is checking in on those projects and their progress.

When you arrive at Augusta Regional, you'll notice blueprints slowly taking off.

A renewed runway recently completed, enough to hold some of the largest planes.

For that ground transportation, "We've decided to increase our parking lot size. We're adding an additional 600 spaces so we'll have over a thousand spaces," said AGS Communications Manager Lauren Smith.

Smith said so far, "We're about 25 percent done with that process and there are 3 different phases and we're on the first one."

Crews continue work on an updated building for your non-commercial flights.

Smith said, "It is going to be a wonderful terminal. it's going to have a lot of improvements and going to look a lot like our main terminal here."

Time too is flying by, in fact, 55 days until a week where the building will be vital.

Smith said, "We are hoping to have done before Masters. It's coming along very quickly. They're moving fast on that one for us."

This all comes about a week after American Eagle departed for good from the airport.

Smith said, "Because it has only been a week, we really don't know how it's going to affect us. I don't think it'll affect us negatively. I think we'll still have the same amount of passengers coming through."

If it stays at that same amount, then that is good news for Augusta Regional. An airport that's been seeing soaring numbers despite a stagnant economy.

This year, they will start some new projects:
Construction on the new General Perry Smith Parkway, serving as road access for aircraft-related business.

The current fire station is set to be expanded this year and passengers will be going through full body scanners in the future.