Preferred Concept for Terminal 1 Airport Development Plan Selected

A development concept to potentially replace the nearly 50-year-old Terminal 1 at the San Diego International Airport has been selected, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board announced. 

In July, airport officials began considering five alternatives on the table for the new Airport Development Plan (ADP), which seeks to meet airport demand through 2035 by finding ways to rework its 661 acres to hold more travelers

The board unanimously selected Alternative 5 as their preferred concept Thursday, a plan that features a unified terminal concept with central federal inspection for international flights and minimal projects so Terminal 1 will be up and running faster. The concept also features more space for parking and critical infrastructure and flexibility for future runway reconstruction. 

Of the five initial concepts on the table, Alternative 5 will be built in the shortest period of time, the board said. The plan is estimated to cost $2.2 billion. 

Over the next 20 years, the main goals are to replace Terminal 1, keep the newly revamped Terminal 2 open as long as possible and grow international travel, officials say. 

Despite the many plans on the table, all five had a few things in common.

Each would create a passenger processing center on the airport’s north side, near a planned SANDAG transit center by Washington Street and Pacific Highway. Every alternative would have overnight aircraft, expand Terminal 2 West to create six new gates, build a new road to take traffic off Harbor Drive and include extra space for a parking garage if needed.

Lindbergh Field’s website has more information on the plan.

The Airport Authority also began an environmental review, which they expect will take one and a half years.

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