Parking deck construction to impact traffic at Atlanta airport
Traffic changes at the Atlanta airport
A parking lot construction project is causing big traffic adjustments at the Atlanta airport right before Memorial Day travel season heats up.
ATLANTA - Get ready for a new traffic flow at the world's busiest airport.
Construction on a new parking deck will begin to impact traffic around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's South Terminal through the rest of the year.
The changes come just as the summer travel season begins to heat up.
Construction on a new parking deck is causing big changes to traffic at the Atlanta airport. (FOX 5)
SEE MORE: Atlanta airport unveils major upgrade to plane train system
What we know:
Starting this week, traffic heading to the South Terminal will be merging into two lanes near the construction of the new parking deck.
The airport says that access to the South daily and hourly parking decks will not be impacted by the work.
Construction on a new parking deck is causing big changes to traffic at the Atlanta airport. (FOX 5)
The construction of new parking decks is needed, officials argue, because more and more travelers are heading through the Atlanta airport. By 2020, Hartsfield-Jackson estimates 125 million people will fly in and out of Atlanta every year. The new deck is expected to open in late 2026 and will have nearly 7,000 spaces and smart technology.
MORE: Parking rate increases go into effect at Atlanta airport
Dig deeper:
The project comes ahead of the busy Memorial Day travel period, which ramps up this Wednesday.
Airport leaders are expecting about 2.6 million passengers will travel through the transit hub over the holiday period.
What you can do:
Airport officials recommend arriving at least three hours before you're supposed to board to give yourself enough time to get through security. Check TSA wait times here.
They also recommend planning ahead if you need to park your car. If it's been a minute since the last time you flew, you may be unaware that rates went up at the end of April.
For travelers driving to the airport, officials say you should plan ahead for potential delays or slower-moving traffic.
You can also use the ATL West Deck, ATL Select, or the Domestic Park-Ride Lot.
The Source: FOX 5's Brooke Zauner reported on this story from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internaional Airport. Additional information came from previous FOX 5 reporting.