Parking at Honolulu International Airport should get a lot easier by the end of next year, when the state expects to complete a new 1,800-stall garage — which is taller and has more stalls than the department envisioned last year.

Yesterday, the state Department of Transportation announced that contractor Dick Pacific was selected to design and build the new garage.

The $39.2 million contract calls for this third airport garage to replace the 250-stall open-air parking lot between the interisland and overseas terminals, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

The new eight-story garage will connect to the interisland terminal garage — which normally fills up most quickly — on the top level with a two-lane traffic bridge and walkways, Ishikawa said.

State transportation director Barry Fukunaga said the project will be a big help for travelers.

"The new structure will help meet the parking demand, particularly since more people are flying due to the low interisland airfares," Fukunaga said.

He said the state wanted to connect to the interisland garage to save time and effort for travelers. That garage normally is busiest because travelers on short-hop Neighbor Island trips use the garage more. "You would save the drivers the trouble of going down several floors to access the neighboring garage," he said.

By eliminating the 250-stall lot, the state stands to gain more than 1,500 stalls. Last year, the state had discussed a five-story, 1,000-stall garage.

"By allowing the contractor to design and build the project, we're hoping to cut down the time it will take to get this up and running," Ishikawa said.

This is part of $2.3 billion effort to improve the state's aging airports. New parking stalls also are planned in Kona, Hilo and Lihu'e.

Ishikawa said Dick Pacific was one of three finalists from among five initial bidders to submit proposals.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.