Clark County is moving ahead with a plan to modernize Terminal 1 at Harry Reid International Airport, targeting decades‑old baggage systems, new escalators and changes to passenger flow. County leaders say the upgrades aim to bring the 1960s‑ and 1970s‑era terminal up to modern standards and handle larger aircraft and busier travel seasons.
What’s being upgraded and when
According to the airport's newsroom, crews have completed two upgraded baggage carousels in Terminal 1 and have two more nearly finished as part of a phased replacement of the terminal’s aging system. The airport says the work will include new conveyors and standby power systems and that remaining carousels will be swapped out in stages to limit operational disruption. The airport also announced an escalator project that will add two escalators from baggage claim up to Level 2 and two more down to the passenger pickup area in the parking garage; that installation was slated to begin in May with anticipated completion in early 2027, per the release from Harry Reid Airport.
Federal money and capacity goals
The FAA awarded $31 million to Harry Reid through the Airport Terminal Grant Program to upgrade baggage systems at Terminals 1 and 3, including new conveyors, larger carousels and standby power, according to The Nevada Independent. That funding is slated to replace eight of Terminal 1’s 16 carousels and—per the reporting—should boost baggage throughput while reducing congestion at claim areas and supporting dozens of construction jobs during the buildout. Clark County officials framed the grant as a needed investment to modernize long‑running infrastructure and improve the traveler experience.
New leadership to steer the work
James C. Chrisley, who formally took over as director of the Clark County Department of Aviation this fall, will oversee the modernization program, according to local coverage. The Las Vegas Review‑Journal reported on Chrisley’s appointment, and the county’s Legistar record confirms the Board of Commissioners ratified the move as part of its August agenda item. County officials point to Chrisley’s years of airport operations and military logistics experience as qualifications for guiding multi‑year projects at LAS.
How this fits into the bigger plan
Officials say the Terminal 1 work is one piece of a broader modernization blueprint that contemplates reconfigured roadways, two multimodal centers for rideshare and transit, and reclaiming space once occupied by the old Terminal 2 to expand gates. Clark County previously advanced a concept to add 26 gates to Terminal 1 and build a terminal‑to‑terminal flyover to separate airport traffic from bypass commuters, as reported by FOX5 Las Vegas, and the county’s planning materials tie those upgrades to longer‑term projects including the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport environmental review (Harry Reid Airport).
What travelers should expect
Local reporting and county statements emphasize the work will be phased so Terminal 1 can remain open, but travelers should expect construction zones near baggage claim and to allow extra time for pickup and drop‑off during peak windows. TV reporting notes the escalator installation alone spans multiple construction seasons, with work scheduled to start in May and wrap by early 2027, so some disruptions are likely over the coming years (KTNV). Airport and airline notices will carry day‑of routing changes and signage updates while CCDOA stages the work to minimize passenger impact.
