Groundbreaking held for Pittsburgh International Airport cargo facility

Pittsburgh International Airport recently broke ground on the Cargo 4 project.

The 77,000-square-foot facility will allow the airport to handle the increased demand for freight. The new facility also will allow the airport to introduce new cargo-handling capabilities and technology.

Cargo 4 will include 17 loading docks for trucks, 7,300 square feet of office space on two floors, and 69,000 square feet of warehouse space.

Most of the loading docks will use dock levelers. The rest will be used specifically for Unit Loading Devices. Flatbed trucks will have a dedicated loading dock, allowing access to the interior of the warehouse.

The facility will be able to house temperature-controlled goods and goods deemed valuable, vulnerable, or hazardous. Dedicated areas will be set aside for security screenings and holding special cargo equipment.

“The expansion of cargo at Pittsburgh International Airport continues to be another example of the strong and growing economy of our region,” Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County executive, said. “More cargo means more jobs, and I thank our federal delegation for their work in securing the grant that helped get this project to where we are today.”

The facility is scheduled to open in 2024. The U.S Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program is funding the project.