Oct 16, 2024

The completion of construction of the new Mickey Leland International Terminal, which is impacting roadways at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), is coming to an end. Houston Airports will be opening closed roadways and welcoming new curb capacity that will address congestion and improve traffic flow to support continued and growing passenger demand. 

During a presentation to the Houston City Council Economic Development Committee on Wednesday, October 16, Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak provided an update on upcoming measures to return road capacity and reduce delays, particularly on North Terminal Road and South Terminal Road which impact traffic to Terminals C, D and E. These efforts are part of the $1.458 billion IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP) aimed at modernizing the airport's international travel capabilities and enhancing the overall airport infrastructure.

Current traffic conditions at Bush Airport involve a congested 3-lane entry along North Terminal Road that narrows to a single lane at critical points, causing delays and bottlenecks for passengers arriving at Terminals C, D and E. The upcoming improvements address these issues head-on.

Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Houston Airports will restore North Terminal Road to its original 4-lane configuration, eliminating the current merge point at the entrance to Terminal D and reducing congestion entering the airport.

Before the Christmas holiday, the airport will close the temporary international arrivals curb at Terminal E  and open 6 of the 8 lanes of the new International Central Processor (ICP) Arrivals level along the new ICP Arrivals and Departures West Curb. This will provide much-needed curb capacity and greatly enhance the customer experience for international passenger pick-up. 

The closure of the old International Arrivals Curb, which has frustrated airport staff and guests since construction on the new international terminal began in 2019, will remove the bottleneck at the airport's exit. Houston Airports will restore the 4-lane exit. This will improve traffic flow without relying on active law enforcement traffic management. 

In mid-January, Houston Airports will celebrate another major milestone when United Airlines permanently shifts its Terminal E operations to the new ICP. The opening will coincide with the complete opening of the ICP Arrivals and Departures West Curb, which will further enhance the passenger experience on North Terminal Road and South Terminal Road. When fully open, the new ICP will have 8 lanes on the lower level and 11 lanes on the upper level. This significant increase in capacity will greatly reduce traffic congestion. Additionally, the opening of the ICP for United Terminal E check-ins will decongest the ticket lobby of Terminal C. The ICP will offer a new TSA checkpoint.   

"From day one, I challenged Houston Airports to focus on making Bush Airport more user-friendly for all Houstonians and visitors. The number one complaint I heard was about the parking and traffic conditions," said Houston Mayor John Whitmire. "These improvements will reduce congestion and improve the passenger experience.  Houston is a world-class city. When we invest in infrastructure, we ensure that our airport remains a gateway that reflects our city's innovation, growth and excellence."

In late summer 2025, Houston Airports will close the existing Terminal D lobby and fully open the new ICP by welcoming the foreign flag airlines into the new international terminal. The final configuration will be in place, permanently closing the old Terminal D curbside drop-off and introducing dedicated entrance lanes for enhanced traffic flow along North Terminal Road. 

"Houstonians and airport staff have been dealing with construction impacts at Bush for the last few years and were excited to announce that the construction is nearing completion just in time for the holiday travel season. During construction, the airport operated two terminals through one, closed an entrance lane, and had a single International Arrivals Curb. These impacts all speak to how vital this new infrastructure is. We'll soon be adding 17 additional lanes of curb capacity and 17 lanes of TSA screening, giving Terminal E check-in operations back its own dedicated space and reopening a roadway that has been closed.   These planned improvements are a game-changer for our passengers," said Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports. "By expanding road capacity and reducing bottlenecks, we're not only cutting down on travel time but also enhancing the overall experience for everyone traveling through Bush Airport."