I just love the way our airport boasts about milestones. If they consider reopening the departure driveway a serious milestone, then we have serious problems. I find it quite interesting that while we celebrate the openings of roadways to our airport, other cities celebrate multimillion dollar expansions to their terminals. Anyhow, I guess it's progress for Luther Trent and Company! Whatever!
Fire the airport trust! Their expansion project is a joke! $110 million! Come on! That ain't nothing when it comes to airport expansion. The last expansion at DFW was in the billions. Our airport trust really acts like this expansion project is a big deal! Whatever!
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"Airport departure roadway opens to traveling public
Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2004
OKCBusiness NewsWire

Airport departure roadway opens to traveling public


Will Rogers World Airport has reached another milestone in the $110 million terminal expansion project. The departure roadway next to the terminal officially opens for public use today.

The new upper roadway now allows visitors to drop off travelers right next to the building. Travelers will also be able to utilize all skycap services. The skycap stations were moved from their temporary positions in the transportation plaza to the new curbside area.

The roadway had been closed for nearly a year-and-a-half to facilitate expansion of the front of the terminal building and curbside area. Much of the old roadway had to be demolished and new lanes rebuilt to accommodate the expansion.

All passenger pickup and public transportation will remain at the transportation plaza for the time being. The arrival roadway, or lower roadway, is scheduled to open after the first of the year.

In addition to the new roadway, Continental and Northwest airlines will move to new ticket counters, the west escalator becomes operational and a new restroom, ticket lobby space and a new baggage claim area will also open.

The old Continental space will close next and renovation will begin on the future American Airlines ticket counter and baggage areas. At the same time, the south expansion continues. Three new gates for Southwest Airlines, a food court, lounge and additional retail shops are scheduled for operation in the spring of 2005.

As new areas open and other close, several new routes for pedestrians will be put in place. It is important that airport visitors look for signs to help direct them and allow enough time to navigate through construction.

Source: Will Rogers World Airport"