The airport provided a sneak peek Friday of its new international arrivals corridor, a key feature of its $110 million third floor expansion project. Not only will it improve the look of the terminal, it will also bring the airport in compliance with a longstanding TSA mandate.

The airport held a preview event to unveil the first walkway. It will literally be the first thing international passengers see upon deplaning. It leads upstairs to a third floor pod, and then a bridge that takes them directly into the immigration hall. Airport executive manager Charles Ada told KUAM News, "It was a 16-year problem that we had to contend with regards to separating TSA-screened and non-TSA screened passengers. So within months we'll be able to showcase the third floor corridor which separates the incoming and outcoming passengers."

The separation was mandated for permanent security enhancements following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The airport used movable partitions as an interim solution to commingling, but they were generally considered eyesores. The sleek new arrivals corridor will be in stark contrast to them, and Ada says will also mean more tenant revenue.

"From an operational perspective," he continued, "it'll provide more efficiency for the airport to maximize gate utilization, and also bring back concessions that were on both sides of the concourse which unfortunately went away through the years."

The arrivals corridor and other capital improvements are funded through a 2013 general revenue bond. Black Construction is the contractor.