The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced today that construction is beginning on a new, six-story parking garage that will service the expanded Terminal 5, more than doubling the amount of available parking at the terminal as it makes the $1 billion transition to a state-of-the-art facility that will serve domestic and international passengers.

“O’Hare is the world’s gateway to Chicago, and nowhere is that more true than Terminal 5,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “These ground transportation and curbside improvements will ensure visitors to our city have a world-class experience from the moment their bags hit the ground to the moment they are whisked away by plane, train or automobile.”

When completed in 2024, the new garage will replace the current surface parking lot and expand capacity to offer a mix of short- and long-term parking options, like those available at the airport’s main terminals. The construction is part of the larger O’Hare 21 initiative, which aims to create a more efficient transportation experience for travelers from curb to gate across the entire airport property. 

“These construction projects admittedly create disruptions to airport operations, but they are essential to providing safe, secure, and passenger-friendly facilities well in the future,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “Investment in our airports creates jobs, business opportunities and economic development in addition to future benefits for those traveling through our airports.”

The Terminal 5 Garage project is led by joint venture AECOM Hunt Clayco BOWA as Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) and supported by 60 participating contractors, including 14 MBE and 14 WBE firms. 

In addition to the new parking structure, the scope of the Terminal 5 Landside Parking Improvements will also include:

• Re-striping of airport roadways to rebalance lane capacity; 
• An expansion to the curbside area, including physical drive lanes, dedicated entry and exit roadways, escalators, and pedestrian areas; and 
• Parking assist technology and electric vehicle charging stations.

This work will be completed in phases in order to maintain pedestrian connections between the terminal facilities and Lot D, as well as maintaining a certain level of public parking availability in Lot D. Phased parking lot closures have already begun and will continue in the months ahead.

O’Hare visitors picking up friends or family arriving in Terminal 5 during the ongoing construction are encouraged to wait in the free Cell Phone Lot at 560 N. Bessie Coleman Drive. The Cell Phone Lot provides a designated area for all airport visitors to wait in their cars until arriving passengers call them for curbside pickup.

Visitors seeking short-term parking to meet passengers arriving at Terminal 5 can also use hourly parking at the Main O’Hare Parking Garage, which costs only $3 for the first hour. From any of the main terminals, visitors can take a short ride on the Airport Transit System (ATS) to Terminal 5. Parking customers are always encouraged to check real-time parking lot status and capacity at FlyChicago.com prior to arriving at the airport.

The Terminal 5 extension will open this fall, with additional renovations opening in phases through 2023. When completed, the revamped Terminal 5 will increase passenger amenity space by 66%, reconfigure the customs facilities, and replace the existing baggage handling system to ensure Terminal 5 provides a world-class passenger experience for both domestic and international travelers. 

All of the Terminal 5 improvements are part of O’Hare 21, Chicago’s vision for a modern airport to meet the needs of the traveling public through the 21st century and beyond. The $8.5-billion curb-to-gate investment will elevate the passenger experience and improve operational efficiencies. More information is available at ORD21.com.