By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- For the first time in history, travelers can purchase tickets to fly from Ogdensburg to Florida directly, but Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Director Wade A. Davis says there is room for much more growth.

Although Davis says he is excited about Allegiant Airline’s commitment to offer direct flights from the city to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, he says there are countless opportunities for expansion.

“We are ecstatic to have a low cost carrier in place and but we are also working to find additional ways to take advantage of the of the new heavier runway.

Davis said the expansion represents for an opportunity for Allegiant to further expand service, or for other carriers to offer additional options.

Davis said he could not speak to what carriers will provide, but a spokeswoman for Allegiant said no additional routes were being planned at this time.

However, Davis says the new runway would be sufficient for an airline to offer service to major airports.

“That’s the beauty of the extended runway. There are endless opportunities,” he said. “It really changes the entire picture for the North Country.”

The accomplishment is the culmination of years of work and collaboration between multiple federal, state and local agencies and the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority.

To make the flights possible a large portion of State Highway 68 was moved to allow for a runway extension, the massive undertaking wrapped up earlier this month.

Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade A. Davis says a project of this side would normally take 10 years from start to finish, but this work was being completed in less than a year.

“It’s not everyday we get to do a $25.6 million project in 10 months,” he said adding that $18.1 million was contributed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Davis said the fast tracking was only possible because of massive amounts collaboration between the private and public sector at all levels.

On Tuesday Allegiant Airline officials on June 28 that direct flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida will be offered year round- and twice-a-week beginning in October.

Allegiant ‘s discount service will provide Ogdensburg area travelers with low base fares averaging less than half the cost of domestic round-trip tickets purchased in 2015.

Flights to Orlando will begin Oct. 5, with Fort Lauderdale flights beginning Oct. 6

The new flights are year-round and will operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays to Sanford, Fla., which is about 27 miles from Orlando and 38 miles from Daytona. Trips to Ft. Lauderdale will take place Sundays and Thursdays.

Flight days, times and fares can be found at Allegiant.com.