usy airports require constant maintenance and upkeep, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) continues to enhance its infrastructure with several key projects underway in 2025. These projects represent significant investments in Anchorage’s position as a critical node in global air cargo networks. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, ANC rose to become the third busiest airport for air cargo in the world. Today, it remains the second busiest airport in North America and currently ranks fourth globally in cargo throughput,” explains Angie Spear, director of Alaska International Airport System.

A surge in ecommerce has maintained pressure on the airport’s infrastructure even as pandemic conditions have eased. During peak cargo periods, the airport faced such high demand that aircraft had to be parked on taxiways while awaiting their next flights. As ecommerce continues to drive demand for air freight capacity, the infrastructure expansions at ANC will help ensure Alaska remains competitive in this vital economic sector for years to come.

The ANC Taxilane Echo and Mike Improvements project, with an estimated cost between $50 million and $60 million, went out for bid this spring. This extensive project includes installing concrete, replacing pavement, upgrading lighting, markings, and signs, plus storm drain improvements. Construction is expected to begin this summer and will span two years.

Two additional projects that were bid last fall are set to commence this construction season. The ANC North Terminal Apron and Taxilane Reconstruction start this spring, while the Taxiway R North and Taxilane U Improvements will also begin this summer. Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of the 2025 construction season.

These developments coincide with the finalizing of the Airport Master Plan, highlighting the continued efforts to modernize the facility.

At the same time, the airport is positioning itself for continued growth in the cargo sector with two significant infrastructure projects currently in development. The ANC West Cargo Expansion and Taxiway Z Extension West, Phase I projects represent critical expansions. Stantec is leading the design for both projects. As the prime consultant for both projects, Stantec is leading the comprehensive design efforts. “We’re doing civil and electrical engineering and environmental analyses/documentation,” explains Evan Griffith, senior project engineer at Stantec. For the West Cargo Expansion project, the firm engaged R&M Consultants to provide topographic survey services.

The West Cargo Apron project will provide much-needed remote overnight parking spots (RON) for large cargo aircraft. “This will meet the demand for more RON positions for aircraft to be able to come in and refuel for the next leg of their flights,” Griffith explains.

When completed, the apron will feature four new parking positions that can accommodate up to Design Group VI Aircraft, complete with ground fuel, power, and overhead lighting systems Griffith says, “The project is in the final steps of the design alternatives development process, and a preferred alternative has been selected. The next step is to complete the design and address environmental requirements.”

The Taxiway Z Extension serves multiple strategic purposes including increasing operational efficiency for large aircraft use and provide connections to new airport development south of Runway 7R-25L. It represents the second phase in a series of projects that will eventually create a full south parallel taxiway to ANC’s Runway 7R-25L. “Taxiway Zulu extension is 75 percent designed, and the project team is working through the environmental process,” says Griffith. Environmental field work is scheduled for this summer.

Another project that went out for bid this spring is the ANC West Perimeter Road, which parallels West End Road.

“The project will relocate the road next to the perimeter fence which will provide better access to inspect the fence daily per TSA requirements,” says Jennifer Pepin, engineering and environmental manager for ANC. The relocation will move the road approximately 1,000 feet from its current position. At an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 feet in length, this relatively small project comes with a price tag between $1 million and $2.5 million. Once bid, the project will go through the award process as a low-bid project, with construction expected to begin and be complete this construction season.

Beyond improved security compliance, the perimeter road relocation offers additional benefits. “The relocation of the road will allow for more additional clean fill sites for future projects,” Pepin notes.

More immediately, Taxiway Z Extension West, Phase 1 will provide crucial access for a new private cargo development. “There’s the Northlink development near the south airpark, and they [ANC] need to provide taxiway access from the airfield to that facility,” Griffith explains. “The facility is going to handle 747-sized cargo aircraft. NorthLink is responsible for the apron and facilities on the lease, whereas the airport is responsible for the design and construction of the taxiway.”

Another private-sector development at the state-owned airport is FedEx’s new Alaska Domestic Operations Center. The facility will consolidate all FedEx package movement throughout Alaska, housing Anchorage pickup and delivery operations while also sorting and loading all intra-Alaska flights to Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Kenai, Homer, and Kodiak. FedEx also plans to use the center to process all packages destined for rural Alaska customers. This expansion enables FedEx to free up capacity at its international hub. The nearly $200 million project remains on schedule, with operations expected to begin around October 2026.

The Taxiway Z Extension involves closing existing facilities. “In order to build the entire project, we have to close the firefighting training center and the FBI shooting range, and that’s an environmental effort that will take quite a bit of time to get through the procedures to properly close those sites,” Griffith explains.

While there are no facilities involved, the West Cargo Apron project requires massive earthwork. “We know there’s [more than] 2 million cubic yards of excavation to be done,” Griffith notes. “It warrants a road relocation and some tug road extension—so there’s quite a bit of earthwork to be done to get that project built. “You could easily see this as a three-summer project,” Griffith adds. “You can only move so much earth every day.”

Both projects carry substantial price tags for total project costs. Taxiway Z Extension West, Phase 1 is estimated between $40 million and $50 million and ANC West Cargo Expansion is estimated between $90 million and $100 million.

The timing of when these projects go to construction depend on multiple factors. Funding the project and accessing FAA grant opportunities are part of the decision process. “Our construction dates are generally dictated by grant funding requirements: when the grant is available for construction—the FAA grant,” Griffith notes. Current projections suggest that Taxiway Z Extension West, Phase 1 will begin construction around 2026, while ANC West Cargo Expansion is targeting construction starting in 2027. Alaska’s short construction season compounds these challenges.

The most monumental construction at ANC is soon to come. The FAA contracted Stantec to design a new Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and Terminal Radar Approach Control facility. The team finalized the design in summer 2024, and the FAA is now securing construction services.

“The current tower, constructed in 1977, was designed to accommodate only four air traffic controller positions,” notes Giovanna Gambardella, principal and Alaska area leader at Stantec. Since then, ANC has expanded significantly, becoming North America’s second busiest and the world’s fourth busiest cargo airport, leading to overcrowding and line-of-sight issues for controllers.

The new ATCT will stand as Alaska’s tallest occupied structure at more than 300 feet—slightly taller than the tallest skyscraper in Alaska, the ConocoPhillips Building.

At the top of the tower, a twelve-sided cab with durable metal panel cladding will enhance technology and viewing capabilities while addressing overcrowding by incorporating additional space for staff.

“We are proud to contribute to an iconic facility that is vital to our community and will be for many the first welcome to Alaska,” Gambardella says.

This facility will provide air traffic control for both ANC and the Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the world’s largest seaplane base, which together serve approximately 5.7 million passengers and handle more than 3 million tons of cargo annually. The project also includes a 10-mile fiber optic telecommunications loop connecting National Airspace System facilities with the new ATCT/Terminal Radar Approach Control facility.

Collectively, these infrastructure projects represent a comprehensive modernization effort for ANC, positioning it to maintain its crucial role in both passenger service and global cargo operations for decades to come. With investments totaling well over $300 million across all current projects, the airport is addressing immediate operational needs while building capacity for future growth.

Airport officials note that all projects are being coordinated to minimize disruption to current operations while advancing on schedules that accommodate Alaska’s limited construction seasons. When completed, these developments will enhance safety, efficiency, and capacity at what has become one of North America’s most strategically important transportation facilities.