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CLT 2015 Underway
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The landscape of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is changing. Years of planning, hard work and renderings will soon transform into concrete and steel. When completed, CLT will look very different than it does today. More importantly, it will meet customers’ needs and expectations with more modern and efficient technology.
In 2010, CLT passenger numbers increased 10 percent, the highest among airports, nationwide.
The CLT 2015 development program covers various expansion projects. All are needed to accommodate current and future passenger growth and will address how motorists arrive at the Airport, to where they park and enter the terminal. Some projects are currently underway. Others will begin within the next few years.
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Terminal East Side Expansion
The 60,000-square-foot expansion of the terminal's east side remains on target to open mid June 2012. It includes adding public space to accommodate CLT's growing passenger numbers. Airport officials have divided the project into two sections - the west and east side.
The west side of the project extends from the west of the Concourse E pill to the terminal’s east end wall. The 40,000-square-foot area will contain additional office, lobby and recheck space. A fifth security checkpoint with five lanes will also be added. The 20,000-square-foot east side of the project will contain additional space for the Arrivals/Baggage area and offices for Customs and Border Protection. The space will also be able to accommodate a future food court on the second floor.
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Arrivals/Baggage Area
Baggage Claim renovations are nearing completion. Work began June 27. Crews are currently polishing the terrazzo, installing brighter, energy efficient lights and new ceiling tiles. The renovated space is also receiving new carpet on the infill areas of the claim devices, new signage and the latest flat screen panels to display flight information. Final project completion is anticipated in the first week of January.
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New Hourly Deck
Construction of the Airport’s new Hourly deck is underway. When completed, the new deck will contain 7 levels and 7,000 parking spaces. The $120 million project is being constructed in two phases. Phase one includes building the back half of the deck in the Daily surface lot. After the first phase is completed in June 2013, CLT will open the back half (north end) of the deck to the public. The Airport will then begin phase two of the project, which involves demolishing the two existing Hourly decks and starting work on the front half (south end) of the new Hourly deck. Completion is anticipated for December 2014.
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The top four floors of the new deck will house 3,200 public parking spaces. The current Hourly decks provide 2,700 parking spaces. The lower three levels on the new deck will include a rental car return facility encompassing rental cars, check-in counters and a service area to wash and refuel the cars. Once completed, passengers will pick-up and drop-off their rental vehicles inside the deck, eliminating rental car shuttles to and from the terminal. A recently approved hike in daily Airport rental-car fees, to $4 from $3.50, will fund that part of the project. Archer Western Contractor based out of Chicago will oversee the project.
Construction of the new deck will allow future expansion of the Airport’s terminal and roadway system. Plans include widening the roadway in front of the terminal from three lanes to six. The Departures/Ticketing and Arrivals/Baggage areas will also be expanded by 150,000 square feet by adding 90 feet to the front of the building. The terminal expansion will accommodate additional checkpoint lanes and reconfigure the ticket counters and the Arrivals/Baggage lobby. Overall cost of the roadway and terminal expansion is $245 million. The projects will be funded through Airport bonds.
Airport Entrance Road
Construction of the Airport’s new entrance road from I-85 is expected to begin April 2012. The project will widen Little Rock Road and include the construction of four new bridges. When completed, the new roadway will create a direct connection from little Rock Road interchange with I-85 to the terminal. The new roadway system will also include dynamic signage that will provide customers with information about parking and special advisories as they approach the Airport. Completion is slated for December 2013.
Curbside Roadway Expansion
Expansion of the roadway in front of the terminal is also planned. Construction of a new Hourly deck will provide room to widen the roadway in front of the terminal and expand the Ticketing/Departures and Arrivals/Baggage areas by 150,000 square feet by adding 90 feet to the front of the building. The expansion will take one year to complete. A construction date has not been scheduled.
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