Transportation
BY HANNAH BROL
Major tra c improvements coming to IAH ahead of the holiday travel season
“Houston is a world-class city. When we invest in infrastructure, we ensure that our airport remains a gateway that re ects our city’s innovation, growth and excellence.”
Five years of tra c delays at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are coming to an end as construction winds down on the Mickey Leland International Terminal, Houston Airport System o cials announced in an Oct. 17 news release. Current situation Construction began in 2019 on the new terminal, which will include the International Central Proces- sor, or ICP, for ticketing and baggage claim; a 17-lane Transportation Security Administration checkpoint; the international gates and the U.S. Customs space. Since then, road closures and limited curb capacity have a ected both passenger pickup and drop o . According to the release, current tra c conditions at IAH involve a congested three-lane entry along North Terminal Road that narrows to a single lane at critical points, causing delays and bottlenecks for
passengers arriving at Terminals C, D and E. What’s being done IAH o cials have outlined the following plans to reopen closed roadways and add curb capacity: • Before Thanksgiving: North Terminal Road will be restored to its original four-lane con gura- tion, eliminating the current merge point at the entrance to Terminal D. • Before Christmas: The temporary international arrivals curb at Terminal E will be closed, and six lanes of the new ICP arrivals level will be opened; the four-lane exit will also be restored. • Mid-January: United Airlines will permanently shift its Terminal E operations to the new ICP, which will coincide with the complete opening of the ICP arrivals and departures West Curb. The
JOHN WHITMIRE, HOUSTON MAYOR
new ICP will have eight lanes on the lower level and 11 lanes on the upper level. • Late summer 2025: The existing Terminal D lobby will be closed and the new ICP will be fully open. Terminal D’s curbside drop o will be permanently closed, and dedicated entrance lanes will open along North Terminal Road. O cials noted the opening of the ICP for United Terminal E check-ins will also divert tra c from the Terminal C ticket lobby, as the ICP will o er a new TSA checkpoint.
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