Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has completed a significant milestone in the construction of its long-awaited Terminal F.
Over the past two weeks, crews have been moving six massive prefabricated “modules,” some nearly the size of a football field, according to the airport, into place to form the skeleton of the new terminal, finishing off the first construction phase.
The last of the terminal’s module made the overnight trip on August 8, rolling along a secured taxiway on top of large transporters before being set onto its foundation. Construction now shifts to building out the rest of the terminal facility, which is reportedly on track to open its first 15 gates in 2027.
The scale of the construction project is record-setting for the airport.
The largest of the six steel-and-concrete modules measured 278 feet long, 136 feet wide, and weighed over 3,330 tons, about the same weight as a dozen Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes. Airport officials say it’s the biggest use of modular construction for a terminal expansion anywhere in the world.
Yet, the piece-by-piece approach to big construction goals is not entirely new for DFW.
The airport has used modular construction before, including its ongoing Terminal C upgrade, but the newest sections are allegedly roughly four times larger. Building large sections off-site and moving them into place allegedly shortens the construction timeline and reduces disruption for travelers, crucial factors for an airport serving more than 80 million passengers annually.
Terminal F, a $4 billion project built in partnership with American Airlines, will eventually include 31 gates dedicated to the airline, in addition to expanded facilities for international flights and specialized “widebody” airplanes.
The new terminal will also feature a Skylink station and a walking connection to Terminal D.
American Airlines also allegedly plans to give up some gates elsewhere at the airport to make room for other airlines once the new terminal begins operation.
In the meantime, the DFW airport seems to be knocking out a series of other traffic-related construction projects.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the airport launched a major traffic detour on August 6 as part of its multi-year “International Parkway Project” to modernize access to Terminals A, B, and C.
For about 90 days, drivers heading to Terminal B will only be able to enter from the southbound lanes of International Parkway, while northbound drivers must pass the terminal, make a U-turn before the North Exit Plaza, and return south. Vehicles leaving Terminal A will be routed exclusively through the North Exit, with an option to loop back southbound.
This separate construction phase includes demolishing the older flyover bridge into Terminal B and connecting a newer bridge span to already existing roads framing the terminal. Earlier this month, airport officials urged travelers to arrive early, use the DFW mobile app for real-time flight updates, and expect clearer, safer access once the project’s new terminal bridges are complete.