Hensel Phelps Wins $700m Deal for Boise Airport Overhaul

The City of Boise has awarded a major contract to construction firm Hensel Phelps for a sweeping upgrade of its airport facilities, in a deal valued at up to $700 million. 

The project, announced in a press release on 3 September, will run through to 2029.

The agreement, approved by Boise City Council on 19 August, appoints Hensel Phelps as construction manager/general contractor for a series of expansions and improvements at Boise Airport (BOI), which serves both civilian and military operations. 

The project falls under the airport’s broader BOI Upgrade development scheme, aimed at scaling infrastructure to meet rising demand across the Treasure Valley.

Key components include the creation of a new Concourse A, which will add up to ten gates to boost future passenger capacity and attract new air services. 

Other planned works feature an expanded baggage handling system, a central utility plant, and a two-phase upgrade of the existing terminal to streamline passenger movement and ease congestion.

According to the city, the airport has experienced a staggering 81% rise in passenger traffic since 2014. In 2024 alone, it handled nearly five million travellers — a record that has already been surpassed in the first half of 2025.

RELATED: O’Hare Airport’s $1.3bn Terminal D Project Underway

The city is using the construction manager at risk (CMAR) model for this development — a delivery method that allows for greater collaboration and budget control in complex projects. 

“The city chose the CM/GC… to ensure collaboration, flexibility and cost certainty,” the company said in a press release.

Hensel Phelps has a long track record with major airport construction projects. This year alone, the company has worked on several large-scale developments, including a $2 billion upgrade at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio.

It is also handling the $1.5 billion Airside D expansion at Tampa International Airport and overseeing a $1.5 billion redevelopment of Concourse A at Nashville International Airport.

This latest win cements Hensel Phelps’ reputation as a go-to contractor for major airport modernisations across the United States.

Join 15,000+ pros getting our weekly digest of news and insights.