Cleveland's Hopkins airport plans $20M in upgrades

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland’s main airport is planning $20 million in upgrades, including renovations to the ticketing lobby, exterior of the terminal and baggage area.

The Plain Dealer reports that work at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is expected to begin next spring and be completed in 2017.

Airport officials and project designers are slated to have a public-information session on the improvements Thursday.

Airport Director Ricky Smith tells the newspaper the goal of the project is to give the airport a more modern feel and add more customer-friendly features.

Key updates include improving the lighting of the terminal’s interior ceiling, installing energy-efficient glass and improving passenger circulation and restrooms at the central security checkpoint.

The design phase is expected to last through this fall.