SAN DIEGO — Big changes are coming to San Diego International Airport.
Starting Friday, October 27, visitors heading to San Diego International Airport on N. Harbor Drive will access Terminal 1 via new entrances.
The new entrances are a part of the airport’s new Terminal 1 planning and construction.
"We are opening up a new entrance to our terminal one to make way for continued construction on our parking plaza," Nicole Hall, spokesperson for San Diego International Airport said.
What you should know
- Drivers heading westbound on N. Harbor Drive will see the new Terminal 1 entrance near Liberator Way.
- This will come earlier for drivers than the previous entrance.
- Pedestrians will access the airport from a new path that begins near the intersection of N. Harbor Drive and Harbor Island Drive.
Airport spokesperson Hall shared with CBS 8, “We really encourage people to drive slow, look for directional signage, and pay attention for slow-moving vehicles so they can stay safe. We are opening up a parking plaza in 2024 for terminal one. It will offer 5,200 spaces, which is 750 more than the one before."
Travelers visiting San Diego International Airport seem to understand the changes that come with construction.
Louie lives in San Diego and said, "Currently there is traffic and as you can see at Southwest, it's very piled up. My ride has had to come around twice already. So, I'm excited for the change and I can't wait for things to speed up."
Ezra is visiting the area and said of the wait in traffic at terminal 1, “It was kind of long. It was a lot of traffic backed up. It was two or three lanes. It was kind of backed up so we didn't have the space to get here. I think it's going to make it easier because the access point is going to be closer to the street. So you can get in and out, without a hassle." Louie added, "I think it's great. It's going to be really good for San Diego and it's going to make things a lot more efficient as well."
Hall advises drivers before the changes take effect, "Tonight, Thursday through Friday, our crews will be working through the night to open that new lane and put up signs so people know where they're going."
Flights start taking off 6:30 a.m. Friday morning. Airport officials tell CBS 8, it's always a good idea to arrive two hours before your flight.
The first phase of the new terminal one will have 19 gates and is scheduled to open late summer 2025.
The second phase will add 11 more gates and will open in 2028. According to San Diego International Airport, the New T1 program’s total budget is $3.4 billion and is expected to create between 15,000 to 20,000 construction related jobs.
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