Roadway Change on March 31
Beginning next Tuesday morning, March 31, we will divert all traffic coming from Terminal A and the Terminal A garage to use the new overcrossing in front of Terminal B. All traffic from the Rental Car Center and the Long-Term Parking lot also will use the overcrossing to leave the Airport. To help you navigate the Airport’s during our construction, here’s a map of Airport roadway changes.

The western three lanes, right next to the Terminal B construction area, will be closed for the next two months as we complete construction on these lanes.

In addition, we’re closing the bypass that takes you directly to Terminal C instead of looping around Terminal A. We’re hoping that we can restore the bypass later this year, but that will depend on additional analysis for engineering and construction phasing.

Pedestrians walking from Terminal C to Terminal A will use the new Ground Transportation island to reach the sidewalk to Terminal A, rather than the sidewalk next to the construction zone.

Drivers still will be able to leave the airport by any of the exits via Skyport Drive, Coleman Avenue, or Airport Parkway.

The departures curb for Terminal C will be relocated temporarily to the new Ground Transportation island in front of the terminal. This will serve passengers on Alaska/Horizon, Continental, Delta, Frontier, jetBlue, Northwest, United, and US Airways.

New Terminal A Ticketing Lobbies to Open May 13
The expansion and relocation of the Terminal A ticketing lobbies to street level are almost completed, and we’re now scheduled to open them for service on Wednesday, May 13. This will be the first opening of brand-new space created by the airport’s modernization project, and it begins our phasing in of the transformation of Terminal A over the remainder of the year.

The new ticketing lobbies will have 60 percent more counter stations than we currently have, and they’ll help our airlines serve passengers more comfortably and efficiently. In addition, Terminal A will now have a longer curb for departing passengers to unload and conveniently check in at street level.

Southwest Airlines will be located in the south ticketing lobby, and American, Hawaiian, and Mexicana airlines will be located in the north ticketing lobby.

Terminal A Escalators Remodel Update
The new and expanded south escalators in Terminal A, near Southwest’s curbside check-in, reopened this week, ahead of schedule. The double escalators are wider than the single one we had before, and they can handle passengers and luggage much more comfortably.

However, we have to close the northern set of escalators again on Wednesday evening this week, March 25, to complete work on this project. This is the final work on the remodeled escalator lobbies, and it’s scheduled for completion in mid-May. The northern escalators generally serve passengers on American, Hawaiian, and Mexicana airlines, but while they’re out of service, the southern escalators will serve all airlines and passengers in Terminal A for the next two months.

Five Gates in New Terminal B Concourse to Open in July
We will open five gates in the new Terminal B Concourse in July to serve Southwest Airlines while we work on Terminal A renovations. Passengers will be able get their first glimpse of the new concourse, which will have a total of 12 gates when Terminal B is done next year.

Until Terminal B is ready to completely open next summer, Southwest passengers will continue to check in and claim their baggage at Terminal A, and the airline also will continue to board passengers from its other gates in Terminal A.

The Terminal B Concourse also will have new shops and restaurants opening at the same time this summer, including The Brit, Le Boulanger, Shark’s Cage, Sunglass Icon, CJ Olson Cherries, and Sunset News. More retail stores and places to eat will be coming as we complete work for the remaining concessions in both Terminal B and Terminal A over the coming year.

Rental Car Garage Makes Fast Progress
Construction crews are now placing the sixth deck of the ConRAC (consolidated rental car garage), and all seven decks are scheduled to be in place this summer. The north helix that will be the entry point for the garage has been built to its full height, and the south exit helix is approaching completion. The new structure is right across the road from the new Terminal B, and it will have 3000 spaces for rental car companies and 350 spaces for public parking. Project completion currently is scheduled for summer 2010.

Airport Improvements Still On-Time and On-Budget
The $1.3 billion program to modernize of SJC’s terminal area remains on schedule and within budget, and we’re already starting the transition to move into new facilities as they are completed. The upgrades at Terminal A will be finished by the end of this year, Terminal B and the Rental Car Garage will open next summer, and roadway improvements will be done by next fall.

Navigating Airport Roads
Heavy construction trucks and equipment continue to use Airport roads. As always, please watch out for other drivers, pedestrians, and construction workers, and please mind Airport speed limits. Airport parking control and traffic officers are there to help keep traffic flowing safely, so please pay attention to them, too, especially during peak times.

New Construction Photos
Current construction photos of the work at the New Airport can be found in the Construction Update section at SJC Construction Photos. We’re making good progress on the major elements of the Terminal Area Improvement Program, and we continue to stay on track to finish on schedule and on budget in 2010.

Airport Construction "Hot Line" at (408) 501-0630
For current information about construction impacts to the airport, call (408) 501-0630. We regularly update the recorded message to help our passengers as we make changes affecting roads, terminals, and parking at SJC.

Construction Schedules Are Subject to Change
We will keep updating the public and our customers about the project details as they occur, but please bear with us as we adjust schedules for the project. We appreciate your patience, and thank you for flying San José while we build The New Airport for you.