Design for new six-story garage at JIA approved

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — You could soon have more parking options at Jacksonville International Airport.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board has approved moving forward with a design for a new $100 million parking garage with more than a thousand spots for drivers.

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Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) is getting busier every year, which travelers can attest to.

“It’s already one of the biggest airports so 100 percent,” Kali Barjivo said, an employee at JIA and frequent traveler who also flies out of the airport.

Due to the growing pace, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority board approved an estimated $100 million parking garage. Vice-president of external affairs Michael Stewart explained it is in the design stage.

“It will be a six-story garage that will be adjacent to the daily garage,” Steward explained.

The garage would create up to 2,000 spots, and it’s only part of a bigger project to transform the entire airport complex. This project also includes a new concourse with six new security gates.

Stewart says this could boost the number of available parking spots up to 13,500 spaces.

Kali’s wife Valeria acknowledged these new parking options could be a huge relief.

“If you guys give more space, the customers are going to love it,” she said.

Stewart says construction could begin late this year or early next year. He asks travelers to be understanding throughout the course of the next three years while this entire project gets underway.

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Kali added, “If you don’t have the patience to wait for a spot, it’s going to be 100-percent worth it to wait for a spot.”