The Portland International Jetport celebrated the opening of its new $75 million, 140,000-square-foot, energy efficient terminal expansion this past weekend.

This expansion is much needed and welcomed by the staff and passengers who use the jetport.

Portland International Jetport Director Paul Bradbury was joined by federal, state and local government officials to cut a giant airline boarding pass to mark the occasion of the grand opening. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Michael Michaud were there to join him.

Collins, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, helped secure federal funding to purchase state-of-the art technology to improve security at the jetport, including a new baggage inspection system and additional screening capabilities.

The number of security screening checkpoint lanes in the terminal was increased by three ”“ doubling the existing number ”“ and an outbound baggage in-line explosives detection system was installed.

Bradbury said in a statement that the terminal expansion has a state-of-the-art design, and the new facilities will help meet the demand of increasing passengers in the future. This project, he said, is a critical step forward for the jetport and will make traveling much more pleasant for its 1.8 million annual passengers. The new terminal is “a model for passenger efficiency and user friendliness, yet it still provides a distinctive sense of place. From the expansive wood structure to the granite finishes, it proclaims loudly its roots in Portland and the great State of Maine.”

In addition to the new look, the jetport will also feature some Maine products and businesses for passengers waiting in the terminals.

In the food court and retail zone, there is a Linda Bean’s Maine Lobster Café, a restaurant that will also sell live lobster packed to go, as well as a Great American Bagel, Starbucks and Burger King. The retail stores feature Cool As A Moose and Down East Market Place, both Maine businesses.

Work also included creation of five extra passenger gates, a security-screening checkpoint, baggage handling equipment, elevators and an improved inbound/outbound passenger circulation space.

Also, parking areas have been expanded and a new enclosed bridge linking the parking garage over the terminal roadway has been created.

While many of the improvements look great, they are also environmentally friendly ”“ like the massive geothermal heating and cooling system, which will save an estimated 50,000 gallons of oil a year.

All in all, this expansion is great for Maine from better security to more space and options for passengers to the promotion of Maine products and businesses to visitors of the airport.

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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.