O'Hare International Airport's overhaul is notching progress, with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) recently capping off a new six-story parking garage for Terminal 5. In a ceremony festooned with construction crews' autographs on the final beam, this structure represents a tangible stride toward revamping one of the nation's busiest hubs. Set for a public debut later this year, the facility will more than double the parking capacity at the terminal, currently serving a throng of both domestic and international travelers.
The CDA, along with city officials, tout technology upgrades within the new car park. Features include a parking guidance system that spits out real-time parking space availability and the much-needed electric vehicle charging stations. In a statement leaked by the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson said, "Investments in ground transportation and curbside improvements are an important complement to the transformational modernization happening across O'Hare." He went on to add a promise of a "world-class traveling experience during every step of the journey into, through and out of the airport."
The new digs—which will offer 2,600 spots—aims to take the place of the existing surface parking with minimal fuss. It’s part of the "phased construction" approach that has alleviated the typical havoc that comes with infrastructure upgrades, allowing parts of the current lot to stay open through the building blitz. The CDA has been playing traffic cop, directing Terminal 5's vehicular overflow to other garages on site, according to a city press release.
It's clear, the Terminal 5 Garage project isn't just about adding parking spaces. The endeavor is helmed by AECOM Hunt Clayco BOWA, with a battalion of 60 contractors, including 14 MBE and 14 WBE firms—a reflection, as CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee highlighted in the press release, of the CDA’s ongoing commitment to "diversity, equity, and inclusion in airport contracting." And the landside improvements don’t stop with just a garage. They're also revamping airport roadways, curbside areas, and pedestrian accouterments.
All these enhancements are but cogs in the grander O'Hare 21 program, a full-fledged transformation of the airport’s terminal complex. When the dust settles, Chicago expects a smoother and more contemporary portal for the world's travelers—and the garage is just one of the first puzzle pieces to fall into place in this sprawling airport's vast renovation quest.
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