Chicago Construction News staff writer
O’Hare International Airport will receive an additional $20 million in competitive grant funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Terminal Program, raising the total awarded to the airport from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to $110 million over three years.
“This investment is crucial for our city’s largest economic engine, which employs tens of thousands of residents and connects more than 70 million travelers annually,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This funding will enhance our infrastructure, making air travel safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable..”
The new grant will fund significant renovations to the non-secure side of Terminal 5, including:
- A pedestrian bridge linking the terminal to a new parking garage
- Enclosing the Airport Transit System platform
- Improving passenger check-in areas and circulation on the arrivals and departures levels
- Upgrading and reconfiguring the security screening checkpoint on the departures level
“Terminal 5 is Chicago’s gateway to the world, welcoming millions of passengers,” said Jamie L. Rhee, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation. “This funding allows us to build on the recent expansion of Terminal 5, enhancing the traveler experience further.”
Terminal 5 upgrades were approved by the airport’s 2018 Airline Use and Lease Agreement and build upon $1.3 billion in recent enhancements, including a 2022 renovation of ten gates for Delta Air Lines and the opening of a new ten-gate eastern extension in 2023.
