A bigger gateway to the Rogue Valley
The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR) is in the middle of its largest expansion since the current terminal opened, and for anyone who lives here, or is thinking about buying a home near Medford, it is a project worth watching. It says a lot about where this region is headed. The airport sits about ten minutes from 612 S Ivy St, which makes the changes practical to follow firsthand.
What is being built
The terminal expansion, roughly $180 million, will about double the size of the 2009 terminal to around 144,000 square feet. The plan calls for a new two-story concourse with up to six jet bridges, plus a ground-level concourse with room for more, for up to eight gates in all. That means more seating, more retail, an extra baggage carousel, and expanded security and check-in areas sized for the number of travelers passing through.
Why now
Passenger numbers have climbed for years, with MFR breaking its own records as the region grows. The airport today is designed to handle about 1.1 million passengers a year, and it projects needing capacity for roughly 2 million by the early 2040s. That growth is why the airfield work came first: two new taxiways and an extended one, plus an expanded apron for larger aircraft, funded in part by a roughly $6.4 million federal grant and celebrated in August 2025. A separate federal award in May 2026 funds rehabilitation of apron pavement.
The timeline
The terminal is being delivered in five phases, and right now the project is in Phase 1, the design phase. Design work has been underway since the effort formally moved into that stage at the start of 2025, and as of early 2026 it was well along. Construction on the terminal is expected to begin in 2027. No runway extensions are part of the current plan.
What it means for residents
For residents, the airport expansion is more than an infrastructure story. A growing airport usually tracks with a growing region: more jobs, more visitors, and more demand for housing near the conveniences people actually use. For homeowners, that is the kind of tailwind that matters, whether you are buying your first home, relocating from out of state, or investing in the Rogue Valley.
A good position in south Medford
Living close to the airport has real advantages, and 612 S Ivy St is about ten minutes from the terminal, close enough for easy travel but far enough for a quiet, fenced backyard with raised garden beds and alley access. If the airport's growth is a sign of where Medford is headed, a home that sits between downtown and the terminal is a home in a good spot. Want to see it? I would love to show you around.