Officials and staff cut a ribbon reading bhm to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Birmingham airport — Officials and staff celebrate the opening of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport’s newly renovated terminal restrooms with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

On Thursday, October 15, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) officially opened its first set of renovated terminal restrooms, kicking off a nearly $5 million project to give travelers a more comfortable place to go before they go.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport gets a restroom upgrade

Modern restroom with a long trough-style sink, touchless faucets, marble walls, and teal tile accents above a mirror — The newly renovated restrooms at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport feature modern fixtures, touchless faucets and updated finishes as part of a nearly $5 million improvement project. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, BHM airport leadership showed off the first set of renovated restrooms in the terminal, delivering modern, convenient and more accessible facilities for customers traveling through the airport.

Here’s what’s new:

More privacy: New stall doors open outward instead of inward.
No more guessing: Privacy locks indicate which stalls are occupied and which are available.
Convenient handwashing: Updated stations are thoughtfully positioned near trash cans and paper towels.
Family-friendly features: The family restroom includes a new adult changing station and nursing rooms for traveling parents.
Modern fixtures: The spaces have been completely redesigned with updated fixtures and improved traffic flow.

Modern restroom with a touchless sink, dark green tile backsplash, paper towel dispenser, trash bin, and wall-mounted disposal unit — Updated handwashing stations and modern fixtures are among the improvements included in the new restroom renovations. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

According to Jennifer Egbe, Chair of the Birmingham Airport Authority (BAA), this is just the beginning.

“Before it’s all said and done, we will spend nearly $5 million on complete makeovers on the concourse restrooms. We want the customer experience to be top notch every time you fly through BHM, and we’re taking strides every day to reach that goal.”
Jennifer Egbe, Board Chair, Birmingham Airport Authority

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is covering 95% of the project through its Airport Terminal Project (ATP) grant program, funded through the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Law that provides competitive grants for terminal development projects that address aging infrastructure and provide safe, sustainable, and accessible facilities.

Row of gray restroom stall partitions with metal hardware beside sinks and tiled walls — New restroom stalls feature updated partitions and hardware designed to improve privacy for travelers. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

So what’s next? Contractor Construction Works, Inc. will begin work on the second set of restrooms immediately with the closing of facilities near the B1 gate.

“We have phased the project in such a way that only one set of restrooms will be closed at any given time. We are working to minimize the inconveniences while delivering first class facilities for travelers.”
Marcelo Lima, Vice President of Planning and Development at BHM

According to the BAA, the project is expected to be completed in October of 2027.

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