Main Tri-Cities Airport entrance to close Oct. 5

The main entrance at Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco will be closed for renovations starting Oct. 5. Passengers will be redirected to the doors to the east near airline ticketing and baggage claim.

The closure is needed to allow the contractor to relocate stairs and an elevator to the front of the building, airport director Ron Foraker said in a news release. It is expected to stay closed for at least six months.

Airport officials are encouraging people to drop off and pick up passengers in the short-term parking lot outside the airport, because of congestion in front of the building caused by construction. The first 25 minutes of parking in the lot are free.

The first phase of the $41.9 million airport renovation project opened last month with three new passenger gates plus baggage claim. The entire project is expected to be done in January 2017.

This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Main Tri-Cities Airport entrance to close Oct. 5."