CHICAGO — The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and its construction partners on Friday celebrated the placement of the final beam on a new, six-story parking garage serving the recently renovated and expanded Terminal 5, a “topping-off” that marks the latest milestone in the City’s efforts to modernize O’Hare International Airport. Members of the construction team signed the final beam as part of the ceremony before it was installed in the structure.

When it fully opens to the public later this year, the new structure will more than double the amount of available parking at the terminal, which serves both domestic and international passengers. It will also incorporate state-of-the-art technology to improve the passenger experience, such as a parking guidance system offering real-time availability of parking spaces and electric vehicle charging stations.

“Investments in ground transportation and curbside improvements are an important complement to the transformational modernization happening across O’Hare,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Our goal is to ensure a world-class traveling experience during every step of the journey into, through and out of the airport.”

When it opens late this year, the new garage, with 2,600 spaces, will replace the current surface parking lot and offers both short and long-term parking options, like those available at the airport’s main terminals. The project’s phased construction has allowed for a portion of the existing surface lot to remain available for parking during construction, and the CDA has promoted parking options in other garages to minimize the impact on Terminal 5 customers.

“This new garage is an important component of providing a modern, comfortable experience for our passengers” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “And throughout this complex project, the CDA has taken extensive steps to reduce the impact on customers as much as possible, while also ensuring the project builds capacity among diverse firms of all sizes.”

The Terminal 5 Garage project is led by joint venture AECOM Hunt Clayco BOWA as Construction Manager at-Risk and supported by 60 participating contractors, including 14 MBE and 14 WBE firms. The project reflects the CDA’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in airport contracting, with a focus to certified minority-owned, woman-owned, or disadvantaged businesses.

Additional landside improvements will include re-striping of airport roadways to rebalance lane capacity and an expansion of the curbside area, including physical drive lanes, dedicated entry and exit roadways, escalators, and pedestrian areas. 

All of the Terminal 5 improvements are part of the larger O’Hare 21 program, a curb-to-gate transformation of O’Hare’s terminal complex into a modern, efficient global bub designed to create a more efficient and comfortable experience for travelers. 

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About the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA): 

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) owns and operates one of the world's busiest airport systems, comprised of O'Hare and Midway International Airports. Chicago's airports offer service to more than 250 nonstop destinations worldwide, including 47 foreign countries, combined. Together, Chicago's airports serve more than 105 million passengers each year and generate approximately $70 billion in annual economic activity for the region. The CDA is self-supporting, using no local or state tax dollars for operations or capital improvements at either airport. For more information, visit flychicago.com.