TRANSPORTATION UPDATES United Airlines unveils Terminal B redevelopment plan to enhance IAH
COMPILED BY SHAHERYAR KHAN & EMILY LINCKE
ONGOING PROJECTS
United Airlines announced plans to modernize and expand Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport during a May 31 meeting of Houston City Council’s Economic Development Committee. United Airlines o cials cited the company’s signi cant eet expansion—which entails replacing smaller aircraft with larger ones to improve e ciency—as one of the main factors driving the project. To accommodate larger aircraft, o cials said Terminal B will need modi cations, and Terminal B North will need to be rebuilt. According to the presentation, arriving travelers will be greeted by a new and visually appealing processor area located on the ground level. The roads and curbs will also be redesigned to optimize customer ow with clear and informative way nding signage. For departing travelers, the rede- signed departure core will provide convenient access to the ticketing hallway, which will be spacious and
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JUNE 8. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT LHKNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. according to a June 7 email from Bambi Hall, a public information ocer with the Texas Department of Transportation. Timeline: July 2019-third quarter 2023 Cost: $17.6 million Funding sources: federal and state funding Loop 494 widening Construction is nearing completion on a project to widen a 7.6-mile section of Loop 494 into a four-lane divided roadway. The project begins 0.5 miles north of the intersection of Loop 494 and Kingwood Drive, and ends north of Sorters McClellan Road. The $17.6 million project is 99% complete and is expected to nish in the third quarter of this year,
This concept rendering shows what Terminal B’s curbside approach could look like after redevelopment. Design is subject to change. (Rendering courtesy United Airlines)
well lit, oering ample capacity for customer check-in and bag drop. The next phase of the project will include the addition of a new security checkpoint, leading passengers to the modern B North concourses, which will feature expansive hold rooms with plenty of natural sunlight. Additionally, o cials noted travelers will have access to a variety of amenities, including concessions,
Terminal B baggage claim area will also undergo a signi cant expansion, tripling its capacity. United Airlines o cials said the goal is to have one of the new concourses open by mid-2026. The project is in the design process, and soon, projects for employee parking, stormwater detention and utilities will commence. The construction of B North, B South and the processor area will be the primary focus starting in July.
retail and restroom facilities. Upon returning to IAH, the
For nearly sixty years we’ve provided essential care for the place we call home. Saving lives in the middle of the night at a nationally renowned trauma center. Delivering at-risk babies against all odds, from all across the county.
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LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • JUNE 2023
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