HOUNSFIELD — Construction crews have completed their work on the new terminal at the Watertown International Airport. The 25,000-square-foot terminal was built as part of an ongoing redevelopment of the airport. It includes a lobby, upgraded ticketing and baggage-claim areas, a new passenger jet bridge, and other amenities, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said […]
HOUNSFIELD — Construction crews have completed their work on the new terminal at the Watertown International Airport.
The 25,000-square-foot terminal was built as part of an ongoing redevelopment of the airport. It includes a lobby, upgraded ticketing and baggage-claim areas, a new passenger jet bridge, and other amenities, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in its Nov. 14 announcement.
The project is viewed as one that will “boost tourism, foster increased economic activity and create a seamless travel experience for residents and visitors,” the governor’s office said. The airport redevelopment was supported by a $28 million award from the governor’s Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization competition.
The airport serves as a gateway for destinations that include the Thousand Islands and Fort Drum.
Watertown International Airport was one of nine Upstate airports awarded a total of $230 million in the latest round of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization competition funding that Hochul announced in the fall of 2022. The awards are intended to “promote, revitalize, and accelerate” investments in Upstate commercial passenger service airports, helping to create airports for the 21st century.
“By investing in airports, we are putting Upstate communities on the runway toward economic prosperity and better quality of life,” the governor contended. “This new terminal at the Watertown International Airport gives the North Country the first-class travel hub it deserves and will create a welcoming environment for passengers traveling through its spacious confines, including the many soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Drum who frequently use this airport.”
The new terminal was constructed next to the airport’s obsolete original terminal, which was built in 1947 and lacked proper amenities, including a passenger jet bridge and adequate waiting areas. Passengers had to board and deplane directly on the tarmac, often braving snow and freezing temperatures, per Hochul’s office.
New features include a lobby, modern ticketing and baggage claim areas, expanded passenger waiting areas, a dedicated car rental counter, and — for the first time — a passenger jet bridge connecting directly to aircraft.
Starting this winter, crews will begin the work to reimagine the original terminal to include a new restaurant, offices, and classroom/event spaces, with a connector joining the two buildings. The revitalization project is expected to cost approximately $33 million and be completed by spring 2026.
Established in 1928, and located in the town of Hounsfield, Watertown International Airport is owned by Jefferson County and handles more than 23,000 enplanements per year. The governor’s office cited a recent report that indicates the airport helps generate more than $29.4 million in annual economic activity.
