In a few years, passengers using Lehigh Valley International Airport will have a new parking option that will let them leave their car and walk to the terminal without going outside.
On Tuesday, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Board of Governors approved the construction of a five-level parking garage and walkway in the current short-term lot. The $55 million project is expected to be completed in 2029.
“Public parking demand is more frequently exceeding available capacity in our Short-Term, Long-Term and Overflow parking lots, especially during peak travel periods at ABE,” said LNAA Executive Director Thomas R. Stoudt.
The parking garage will add about 1,000 additional parking spaces to roughly 1,700 existing public spaces. It will include such amenities as a seamless parking experience with Flash and ParkMobile for digital payments and using technology to help passengers find their way to the terminal. The building will also have Parksmart Certification for using a sustainable design.
The elevated pedestrian walkway will provide a protected and direct connection to the ticketing level of the Main Terminal.
The LNAA has been working on the design since at least early 2024.
Stoudt said that during construction there will be increased complementary shuttle bus service to the Overflow and Long-Term parking lots and temporary expansion of additional parking areas.
The announcement comes days after LVIA announced that it had a record amount of passengers in September with 88,368 using the airport, a 14.5% increase over the year. That comes after its busiest summer travel season in history with 320,058 passengers from June to August, surpassing the 2025 record total of 299,799.
A 145-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel next to the terminal is also nearing completion. LVIA says it is scheduled to open in early 2027.