PROJECT JOURNEY
Major Improvements are on the way at Reagan National Airport. A
one billion dollar program called Project Journey will transform the
passenger experience inside the terminals and at the gates. When
the project is completed, a new, spacious Commuter Concourse will
replace the cramped and inefficient facility at Gate 35X, which now
serves 6,000 passengers a day through one doorway, and then buses
them to and from their planes. The new facility will have indoor
boarding areas, shops, restaurants and an American Airlines club.
To reach the gates, passengers will move through new, relocated
and expanded security checkpoints that free up movement within
Terminal B/C by converting the space with all of its shopping and
dining options, to a post-security environment.
While the work is now just getting started, visitors to the airport will
notice several construction crews, fences and protective dust walls
moving in. Also, passengers using Gate 35X will witness the gradual
demolition of an office building and hangars where the new 14-gate
concourse with jetbridges will be built. At the terminal, survey crews
will prepare the ground-level arrivals roadways for several phases of
work that will support construction of two new 75,000-square-foot
security screening structures overhead.
Most customers who fly out of the airport will be minimally
impacted by the construction. Airlines and flights will continue
operating normally throughout the project, with the usual services
and amenities.
As the pace of construction increases, passengers who use airport
roadways should prepare for potential impacts to their journey.
During the height of construction, beginning after the Thanksgiving
holiday weekend, lane closures will slow the movement of traffic,
and some pick-up and drop-off points will be relocated to keep
vehicles moving around the work areas.
To follow the project and stay informed about its impacts, visit
flyreagan.com/projectjourney.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 14 AUTUMN 2017
BY ROB YINGLING
Exterior view of security checkpoint from roadway
TIPS TO HELP PREPARE FOR ROADWAY WORK
• Expect roadway congestion due to temporary lane
closures and changing traffic patterns. Police will
direct traffic at peak travel times.
• Allow more time to reach the airport if arriving by
private car, taxi, Uber or Lyft.
• To avoid the congestion, use Metro or park in airport
parking garages or lots. Reserve parking online in
advance to guarantee a space, visit www.flyreagan.
com/parking.
• Follow posted signs and directions to reach your
destination. The airport has several information
counters with people ready to help, if needed.
• For part of 2018, airport buses and hotel shuttles
will only operate upstairs along the departures-level
roadway. Arriving passengers should follow detour
signage to the bus stops.