LIHUE » The Hawaii Department of Transportation is preparing designs for an $8 million upgrade at the Lihue Airport.

Airports Division deputy director Ford Fuchigami tells The Garden Island that the department wants to enlarge boarding lounges so passengers have more places to sit before flights.

He says air-conditioned walkways and new flooring and lights are also part of the upgrades.

Airports Division project manager Gene Matshushige says a design could be completed in six to eight months. Advertising for a construction contract would follow that.

He says the work likely will take a year to complete.