Gulf Shores International Airport will receive $5 million in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill as part of the Airport Terminal Program.

The airport was one of 144 airports nationwide and, along with Huntsville, one of two cities in Alabama to receive funding.

“This is for the temporary terminal, a small one that we will build immediately,” said Mayor Robert Craft about the first steps of terminal construction.

With the total cost of the project estimated at $7.9 million, the airport has applied to the city for a $3 million loan to complete the project, which was approved at a recent council meeting on August 12.

“This is a 180,000-square-foot terminal building and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025,” said Jon Walker, city manager, of the final project.

Walker said the terms of the city’s $3 million loan included an 11-year repayment plan with no interest for the first three years. If the loan is not repaid within those first three years, the city will receive 6% interest on the loan.

Councilman Jason Dyken said at an earlier work session that there has been no official announcement on when construction will begin, but preliminary meetings with the contractor were scheduled for last week. Dyken also said the construction time for the project is about 300 days.

At the Aug. 12 meeting, council members unanimously approved resolutions to accept the Federal Aviation Administration grant and approve the city’s GSIA loan.