As the first phase of the new $4.1 billion Salt Lake City International Airport prepares to open on Tuesday, passengers will start to see changes now on where they can make TRAX connections and where they should park if they want to find their cars when they return from trips.
The Utah Transit Authority says it will cease direct TRAX Green Line service to the airport beginning Friday through Monday as a new temporary station is prepared there. People seeking to take TRAX to the airport will need to exit at the 1940 West Station and take a shuttle to terminals. A shuttle to that station from the airport will also be available at ground level at the terminals.
That shuttle service will operate from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 6:20 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. on Saturday and 6:20 a.m. to 8:52 p.m. on Sunday.
Beginning on Tuesday when the new airport facilities open, TRAX will use a new temporary airport station. Passengers then may take a shuttle from it to the new airport terminal.
UTA aims to finish a new permanent station next summer at the airport, which will be adjacent to the new terminal. The current, or old, terminals must first be demolished to make way for extension of TRAX rail lines to that new station. UTA has said the new station and extension will cost $18.6 million.
Meanwhile, airport officials are urging travelers who leave on trips now but who will return after the new airport opens next Tuesday to park in the economy lot rather than the current garage — which will be demolished after new facilities open.
The airport will not allow access to the current garage after Monday. Cars that are parked there on Tuesday morning will be moved to the new garage, and a parking attendant will be on-site to assist passengers in locating their vehicles.
As part of the first phase of the new airport, a new garage will open on Tuesday with twice as many stalls as the current facility.
Beginning on Tuesday, passengers being dropped off by car at the airport will access the terminal by a new roadway. An elevated road is available for passenger drop off, while passenger pickup is at ground level.
Overnight on Monday and Tuesday morning, current terminals and the parking garage will close and a new garage, terminal and a concourse for Delta Air Lines will open.
Some gates for all other airlines — with access from the new terminal via a pedestrian bridge — will continue in use until Oct. 27, when another new concourse will open for those airlines.
The airport has added a navigational map to the SLC International phone app to help passengers find their way. The airport encourages all passengers to allow extra time to find parking and access their gate, especially those flying out of original airport gates, because the walk from the new terminal to the original airport will take longer.
The first flight scheduled to leave the new airport on Tuesday is a 6 a.m. Delta flight to Atlanta. The first flight scheduled to arrive is a Delta flight from Idaho Falls at 7:20 a.m. Passengers departing and arriving will be greeted with a water spray salute and each will be given an airport coin to commemorate opening day, officials said.
Follow @LeeDavi49903322