RDU campus roadway improvements upcoming
- April 23, 2025
- Posted by: Jacob Rigg
- Category: Blog
RTA members and partners,
The regional business community relies on a successful RDU International Airport for commercial, leisure, and tourism travel, and to support economic development. However, the growth in air travel necessitates continued, strategic investments on both the airside (e.g., runways, taxiways) and landside (terminals, roadways) of the airport campus.
The RDU Airport Authority is about to commence work on significant improvements for John Brantley Boulevard, which is the airport ring road that serves both terminals.
The proposed upgrades will include:
- Reduced traffic delays and improved overall roadway travel flow, by creating a new bridge where terminal 1 and 2 auto traffic cross each other
- More capacity and queuing space overall, by extending the John Brantley Blvd. (airport terminals ring road) 350 feet to the northeast
- Additional roadway bypass lanes near terminal 1
- More roadway capacity for the upper, departures level of terminal 2, via a longer terminal bridge
- A new ground transportation center for ride sharing and other services, by repurposing part of the ground floor of the existing central parking garage
These roadway flow and access improvements, slated to cost around $175 million, will commence later this year and will take a few years to complete. This means that your access to RDU will be constrained a bit during construction, so plan ahead before your next air travel journey.
If you would like to offer comments about how important RDU campus roadway improvements are to your company, you may send an email to: publiccomment@rdu.com by Thursday, May 8, at 5 PM EDT.
You can also deliver your comments in person at an upcoming RDU Environmental Compliance workshop on Thursday, May 1, between 5p-7p at the RDU Authority headquarters (1000 Trade Drive, RDU Airport).
Here are some additional resources for your review:
The RTA Steering Committee will formally discuss these improvements at a meeting in early May; I expect that they will be strongly supportive of the proposed access enhancements to our hometown international airport.
RDU is an essential partner for the business community and the region, as it provides an increasing number of domestic and international nonstop destinations via a very attractive and convenient air travel experience. The Airport Authority’s proposed improvements to John Brantley Boulevard and environs will ensure that that experience remains an outstanding one as our market grows.
Have a great weekend, everyone, and let’s get moving.
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA executive director
