Airports prepare for a strong cargo future by addressing their facilities now. AUTHOR Joe Petrie LAREDO INTERNATIONAL Airport (LRD) is working on a full rehabilitation of the cargo and general aviation side of the airport. This includes a new ramp area to expand and enhance cargo operations. Jeffery Miller, director of LRD said the old asphalt ramp was creating FOD issues. Airport leaders brought in FAA officials to share the concerns and eventually secure funding for the project, which was awarded $55 million during the past five years. When completed, the apron will be more than 3.3 million square feet. Phase 11 and 12 alone covered more than nine football fields in space. LRD recently broke ground on Phase 13 and is now entering Phase 14. "We'll be capable of holding 37 Boeing 767 aircraft in conjunction with one another," Miller said. "It's a huge expansion of the area." The old ramp fell into disrepair after years of not being maintained. The asphalt surface was in poor condition, which created issues for Laredo, which is one of the largest inland ports in the U.S. The airport is the 41st largest for cargo and continues growing. Greenspave and old taxiway was demolished to make space for the new ramp at Laredo International Airport. JPG CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION