By Anika Robertson
Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
The sight of passengers darting across ATL’s roadways to enter and exit the Domestic Terminal will soon be a thing of the past.
One of the major projects underway is construction of two giant canopies that will extend from the North and South sides of the Domestic Terminal. The work is part of ATLNext, the Airport’s $6 billion capital improvement program.
While their appearance will be grand, the canopies also will improve the guest experience. They will protect passengers from weather conditions, and they will improve traffic flow by housing elevated walkways between the parking decks and terminal.
Work to prepare the foundation for the canopies’ steel trusses began in March 2017. There are 19 supertrusses per canopy, one for each side (North and South). The 38 total supertrusses are each connected to a pier column. Each pier is 21 feet high. Canopies require 3,500 tons of steel, equaling the weight of nine Boeing 777 jets.
The steel is produced in Chicago, rolled and fabricated in Houston and Lubbock, Texas, and assembled in Atlanta.
The canopy material will consist of ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) membrane, a fluorine-based plastic that will cover 19,776 square yards, or the equivalent of three football fields. The durable, recyclable material is known for its design flexibility to withstand extreme weather conditions. It’s expected to have a 30-50 year life expectancy with minimal maintenance.
The ETFE membrane coverage is almost 10,000 square yards per canopy, and as a bonus, it will illuminate ATL’s facade with more than 3,500 customizable LED strip fixtures for color themes to commemorate holidays and special events.
Over the past several years, other ETFE structures have opened abroad, including WaterCube in Beijing, China; Eden Project in Cornwall, UK; and Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. The U.S. recently began incorporating it into structural designs, including Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened July 2016, and our own Atlanta Falcons’ new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opens in late August.
The projected date of completion is late 2018. How will construction affect your routine? Below are ATLNext project impacts. For more information, visit www.next.atl.com.
Impacts through mid-June 2017
North Terminal
- Parking Deck Elevators
- Closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. May 15 – 21 and June 25 – July 25. Customers needing assistance can call 404-530-7300 for van service.
- Roadway
- Upper level: Closure of outer lane of outer roadway
- Upper level: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. closures of all outer lanes
- Lower level: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. closures of two inner lanes
- Crosswalks
- Upper level: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. closure from the Hourly Parking Deck to ticketing area (door N5). Use crosswalk at door N3 to access Hourly Parking.
South Terminal
- Roadway
- Upper level: Closure of outer lane of outer roadway
- Upper level: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. closures of all outer lanes
- Lower level: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. closures of two inner lanes June 6 – 13
- Crosswalks
- Upper level: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. closure from the Hourly Parking Deck to baggage claim area (door S5). Use crosswalk at door S3 to access Hourly Parking.
- Door
- Lower level: Periodic closures of door LS2, leading to lower roadway and South Economy Parking lot. Check for signage and use door LS1/tunnel.
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