Terminal 1 of the San Diego International Airport will get a major makeover in an effort to modernize it. NBC 7’s Audra Stafford has a preview of what it may look like upon completion.
After nearly a decade of planning, work has started at San Diego International Airport on a $3.4 billion project that will eventually replace the 1960s-era Terminal 1 and build a new airport access road.
The project got underway this week after the Federal Aviation Administration approved a federal environmental impact analysis, according to the airport. It's the first major overhaul for the airport that opened in 1967.
"For roughly half of our passengers, Terminal 1 provides their first impression of San Diego. Admittedly, it’s not a very good one," the San Diego International Airport's statement on the project said.
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Initial work ranges from removal of vacant cargo buildings to relocation of utilities.
The new terminal will have 30 gates, improved food and retail concessions and a baggage system capable of handling 2,000 bags per hour during peak periods.
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Nineteen gates are expected to open in mid-2025. The old terminal will then be demolished and the remaining 11 gates should be finished by 2027.
The airport’s Terminal 2 previously underwent a $1 billion redevelopment.
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