Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is gearing up for a major shift in traffic flow as part of a years-long effort to overhaul access into its terminals.
Beginning the first week of August, drivers heading to or from Terminals A and B will need to prepare for a series of detours expected to last roughly 90 days, part of DFW’s ongoing “International Parkway Project.”
According to a recent announcement from the airport, the multi-phase project will redesign access roads leading into Terminals A, B, and C. In this phase, work crews will demolish the aging flyover bridge into Terminal B and connect a newly built structure to the existing road.
That means change – and likely some confusion – for thousands of travelers in the coming weeks.
Starting August 6, passengers driving to Terminal B will only be able to enter from the southbound lanes of International Parkway. If you’re arriving from the north, you’ll have to drive past the terminal, take a U-turn before the North Exit Plaza, then loop back south to reach the current entrance. For those leaving Terminal A, the only available route will be via the North Exit, with an option to use the U-turn to head back southbound.
While it sounds complicated, airport officials insist that plenty of transportation guidelines and signs will be in place.
Airport officials are now encouraging travelers to:
- Arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights, and three hours for international flights.
- Use the DFW Airport mobile app to check parking availability, security wait times, and get live detour updates.
- Sign up for email alerts for project updates at dfwairport.com/construction.
The three new bridges being installed for Terminals A, B, and C are allegedly designed to offer more driver-friendly access, cutting down on those dangerous last-minute lane changes.
Crews installed 141 concrete beams, stretching a combined 2.8 miles – longer than DFW’s longest runway. More than 13 million pounds of concrete were used, lifted by a series of cranes, including a 900-ton crane capable of hoisting more than ten adult blue whales. Most of the work was done overnight, aiming to minimize disruptions for flyers.
Inside the terminals, DFW is focusing on aesthetic improvements.
As part of the reimagining of Terminal C and the development of a new Terminal F, the airport has recruited artists Jen Rose of Dallas and Pae White of Los Angeles to design two large-scale art installations, according to another recent update.
Rose’s piece, titled Prairie Haven, will draw inspiration from North Texas’ Blackland Prairie ecosystem, while White’s artwork will honor the Trinity River through a suspended aluminum tapestry.
These recent commissions are only the first of more than a dozen public art commissions slated for installation in the coming years. According to the airport, DFW’s art collection will grow by 60% with the addition of 16 new pieces of art.