By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Airport development is ahead of schedule and should be ready for Allegiant Air flights by October, according to Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade Davis.

Davis said the $25.6 million project has created construction jobs and generated economic activity for the past several months and noted that the work is moving forward a swift pace.

Davis said favorable weather has allowed crews to move ahead of schedule, which is fairly uncommon for a project of this magnitude.

The airport expansion involves moving a portion of State Highway 68. He said the new section of road is nearly complete, but added it will take some time to tie the new section into the existing highway.

The expanded parking lot at the airport, which will accommodate an additional 400 vehicles, is nearly ready to be paved as is the runway, which is being overhauled and extended.

One drawback of the ongoing work is that the airport will be closed from June 27 to Aug. 27 while the terminal is reconstructed. That means no flights from Cape Air.

Davis says he expects all construction tor wrap up by late August or in September.

Davis offered his appreciation to city council who has been supportive of the airport project. He said the partnership between the OBPA and the city was a key factor in the project coming to fruition.

In 2014, the OBPA reached an agreement with Allegiant Air, a Low Cost Carrier (LCC), to provide LCC services at OGS commencing November 2016, contingent upon the OGS airport expansion.

Allegiant has agreed to contribute up to $1 million towards the terminal expansion and the OBPA has already contributed nearly $1.7 million to accelerating the airport expansion process to meet Allegiant’s schedule.

The expansion includes all the infrastructure improvements to accommodate the operational requirements of Allegiant Air’s 177-passenger Airbus 320 aircraft and the LCC forecast demand while complying with current Federal Aviation Administration on (FAA) and NYSDOT standards.

This includes a 1,200-foot extension of Runway 27, taxiway widening and extension, runway approach lighting improvements, relocation of a section of NYS Route 68 to accommodate the runway extension, and obstruction removal.

Additional improvements include a 4,000 square-foot terminal addition to accommodate LCC operations and the addition of a 423-space parking area.