The lot at Orchard and Victory roads will be closed beginning May 15 to make room for the new Interstate-84 Orchard interchange and a new, bigger economy lot, Boise Airport spokeswoman Patti Miller said Monday.

The new I-84 off-ramp will cut through the current economy lot, Miller said.

"We were talking about expanding the economy lot anyway. We were going to wait a year," Miller said. "It's going to be a mess."

The new lot will be funded within Boise's existing budget, according to city spokesman Adam Park. "Once we saw the impact on traffic that Orchard Street (construction) would have, we thought we should get it out of the way as soon as possible."

Shuttle service from the other parking lots will not be available because they are all a "walkable" distance from airport terminals, Miller said. It will continue at the economy lot until the end of May for the cars parked there May 15.

People who use the shuttle service from the lot to the airport terminals, such as senior citizens and families with small children, will have to make other arrangements.

Shelly Pospychala uses the airport at least half a dozen times a year when flies to Oregon to visit family with her two children, ages 3 and 4.

She said she may have to cut down on the number of times she flies because it is too difficult without the airport shuttle service.

"Not having that help getting my luggage, being in a parking garage with my kids, it's scary," Pospychala said.

In the meantime, the airport will make do with its current parking facilities.

The number of total passengers has dropped by at least 40,000 a month for the first three months of 2009, so the days of circling in search of a parking spot may be over, at least for a little while.

The expanded economy lot, which will include part of the old lot and extend to the west of the interchange, is expected to open by summer 2010, officials said.

The Idaho Transportation Department has begun work at the Orchard Street interchange, which will be reconfigured and have a new bridge and expanded lanes. The work is expected to take about two years.

The new economy lot also will have restrooms and a new signal-controlled exit at Eagleson and Victory roads, airport officials said.

Bethann Stewart: 377-6393