AUGUSTA -- The Augusta State Airport terminal is getting a facelift, more space for passengers and a new roof.

The $200,000 renovation project is funded by a state Department of Transportation grant.

Work starts Saturday.

"It's time. This building was constructed 30 years ago," Airport Manager John Guimond said. "Our passenger numbers have been steadily increasing since the first of the year. The current layout won't handle the increase."

During renovations, some airport services -- including passenger check-in and all security screening -- will be moved to a recently constructed addition to the terminal, built to house a new fire truck. The truck isn't expected to arrive until December.

"My goal was to keep the airport open, and it happened to work out perfectly that we had the new addition and the truck isn't here yet," Guimond said. "It's new, it's clean, it should be pretty seamless to the public."

The renovations will dramatically increase the size of the now sometimes-cramped area where passengers wait to board planes after they have been screened by Transportation Security Administration workers.

The renovated space will have room for 20 passengers at once, up from eight.

Guimond said that, on numerous occasions, the airport has had 15 to 18 people waiting to board a plane, forcing workers to screen and load passengers in shifts, or causing overcrowding in the waiting area. The cramped space is especially inconvenient for passengers when flights are delayed and already-screened passengers have to wait in the tight space.

Guimond said passenger trips are about 12 percent up over last year, averaging around 300 a month.

In January, Colgan Air Inc., which provides flights at the airport, began using larger, 34-passenger Saab turboprop planes, up from 19 seats in its previous planes.

The passenger space will expand into about 16 feet of what is currently part of the Sweet Chilli Thai restaurant inside the terminal building.

Guimond said, as part of the renovations, the restaurant will lose three tables, which will be replaced by a new bar with seating for six.

The restaurant will get new flooring, as will most of the first floor of the airport building.

The restaurant will be closed for about a week for the work.

The bus station and Hertz car rental agency will remain open in their current locations for most of the renovations, though both may close for one day. Guimond said the buses will still come as scheduled, but, on the day the bus service will be closed, passengers may only be able to buy tickets online, not in the terminal.

Guimond said the target date for completing renovations and moving back in is Dec. 28.

The terminal will also get a new rubber roof.

City Manager William Bridgeo said recently that asbestos also will be removed from around the terminal's boiler.

The airport is owned by the state but run by the city.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com