COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A map is out that shows what John Glenn International Airport will look like once a $2 billion terminal project is complete.
Planning on the terminal is moving forward after $250 million in contracts were approved by the board of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority in June. The project is anticipated to have an early 2025 groundbreaking and be completed in 2029. The 36-gate terminal will completely replace the existing one that has three concourses, multiple security checkpoints and just 34 gates, with its oldest sections dating to the 1950s.
The airport posted the map this week to its Facebook page, highlighting recent changes like the rental car center, plus upcoming ones like the new parking garage and the expansion of the red and green parking lots. The airport McDonald's is set to be demolished to make way for the $180 million garage.
Other changes shown on the map include a public safety facility and relocated phone lot. The map also showed that the garage next to the existing terminal will remain in place.
Renderings released in February showed what the inside of the terminal will look like. The images included a ticketing lobby, security checkpoint, central marketplace and concourse. Earlier renderings were released in August 2023.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects the 15-county area served by the airport region is on track for a population of 3.15 million by 2050. This new terminal is meant to accommodate those hundreds of thousands of incoming residents, airport officials say.
"I've said this to our staff and challenged them, it has to be the best, most efficient terminal built in the world," said Joseph Nardone, President and CEO of the airport authority, on the website for the terminal project.
