It's been a long time coming for the Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport, but the airport is finally getting a much needed facelift.

The multi-phase construction project is in its third phase right now. And the fourth phase is expected to begin in middle to late October.

“The goal is to build a new terminal building for general aviation on the east side of the airport. Along with some hangers. And it'll be a new front door, a new entrance into the airport,” said Bill Hutto, Airport Director.

“The airport has really under served our area... Auburn, Opelika and Lee County for some time because we're one of the fastest growing, most progressive areas in the state. And our airport just has not kept up with it,” said Representative Mike Hubbard.

Up until now it's stayed mostly the same as it was when it was built.

“The history will tell you that the impression has not been good when you first fly into the community, you come by air. The facilities and the buildings that you see are not the impression that you would expect from an area like Lee County,” said Auburn Mayor Bill Ham.

As the area recruits companies, the airport is a necessary economic development tool.

“It's just a requirement that we have a better facility in order to be a top tier area and we've got everything except a top tier airport and my belief is, once we're done with this, we'll have one of the best airports around,” said Hubbard.

Auburn, Opelika and Lee County will fund the terminal building's construction, in partnership with auburn university. The airport is owned and operated by the school. As for the site work, about 95% is coming from federal funds.

“Because it does have an educational mission and the flight education program at Auburn University. So I have been working very hard to finish this project. It's a project that's been talked about for about 15 years,” said Hubbard.

“It's really a unique partnership to make this come to fruition,” said Hutto. And the Auburn-Opelika Airport is one of only about a dozen in the whole country owned and operated by a university.

Hutto said bids on the terminal building are expected to open in January 2009. Construction on the building should take about a year. It could be complete as early as January 2010.