Local

Traffic could get worse at the airport due to another construction project

Travelers beware: Roads close at Atlanta airport for canopy construction

ATLANTA — If you think traffic is bad now at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport - it could get much worse.

Work on new pedestrian bridges could make things worse, before they get better.

Crews are currently building canopies outside the domestic terminal.

Now, they're asking the Atlanta City Council for millions to build new pedestrian bridges between the parking decks and the terminal. The money will come from airport funds and revenue from the $4.50 passenger facility charge travelers pay for each flight.

Once construction of the elevated walkways is complete, that’s also expected to improve the flow of vehicles.

The pedestrian bridges were originally going to be completed in 2018 and 2019. But now, the airport expects to finish construction of the bridges in February 2021. The project ties into plans for massive curbside canopies, which are still under construction.

The Atlanta City Council last year approved $20 million in funding for pedestrian bridge pre-construction work such as escalator manufacturing and steel.

TRENDING STORIES:

The airport has been planning to build two spans at Terminal South and two at Terminal North. The project includes escalators and elevators to a mezzanine level for entrance into the bridges.

The work is being done as part of a larger contract for parking deck reconstruction by Holder-Austin-Moody-Bryson, a joint venture of four construction companies.

Information from our partners at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AJC.com was used in this report