Tweed New Haven Airport’s long-discussed expansion is now slated to break ground in 2026, marking a major step forward for a project that has grown from a $70 million concept to a $250 million undertaking. Airport officials say the redesigned terminal, runway extension, and environmental restoration work will be completed by 2028 — though local skepticism is already mounting.
.jpg)
The announcement came from STV, the New York–based professional services firm tapped by Avports to manage construction. The company emphasized that it is prepared to shepherd Tweed’s next chapter, noting the project includes a new terminal on the East Haven side of the airport and nearly 1,000 additional feet of runway to support expanded commercial service.
Airport authority chair Robert Reed said momentum is finally aligning behind the long-delayed project. “This is an exciting step forward for The New HVN,” he said, adding that STV’s selection “marks real, tangible progress toward delivering an airport that meets the growing demand for convenient air travel.” Reed urged that “local and regional stakeholders … align with this progress,” emphasizing collaboration with surrounding neighborhoods.
STV Vice President Mark DuPre echoed that confidence, saying, “Tweed-New Haven Airport is a gateway for growth, and we’re proud to help unlock its potential.”
New HVN CEO Michael Jones added that “STV understands that we are ready to turn this vision into reality.”
According to STV’s release, the expansion includes:
However, notably absent from the announcement was a specific start date in 2026 or clarity on what initial construction activity will look like.
The project remains entangled in a federal legal fight. On Friday, lawyers for Save the Sound and the FAA will appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. to argue over the airport’s Environmental Assessment — a document the nonprofit says is deeply flawed.
Save the Sound attorney Roger Reynolds dismissed the airport’s latest announcement as more posturing. He said it is “just another in the many they’ve made” and argued that the airport has not fully addressed core concerns, including that the terminal site is “entirely in a flood plain” and sits near sensitive wetlands and residential neighborhoods.
He added, “Until they choose to seriously engage with the environmental issues instead of simply trying to minimize and distract from them, we don’t believe the project is going to be able to move forward.”
East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora also questioned the timing, calling the 2026 construction start “premature.” He emphasized that the airport must still undergo local reviews in his community — not just in New Haven.
Carfora said the town expects a full and fair process: “East Haven must not be placed in a different category than any other community affected by a major expansion of this kind.” He stressed the need for “meaningful engagement” on issues like traffic, stormwater, emergency access, and neighborhood impacts.
He warned that the town will “exercise every regulatory and legal opportunity available” to ensure its concerns are addressed. “Until that process is complete, any representation that the project is ready to move forward is premature.”
With design now 70% complete, the coming months will test whether Tweed’s expansion can clear the remaining hurdles — legal, environmental, and political. Advocates say growth is overdue and essential for regional mobility, while critics argue the airport must first prove it can operate responsibly in a flood-prone, tightly knit shoreline community.
What’s certain is that the stakes have only grown higher as the project’s budget and scale have ballooned. And with court arguments underway and local approvals pending, Tweed’s projected 2026 start date remains far from guaranteed.
Originally reported by Thomas Breen in New Haven Independent.
.png)
