SAN DIEGO — Passengers can expect significant delays at the San Diego International Airport Tuesday through Friday because of the planned demolition of a pedestrian bridge at Terminal 1, authorities said.
Terminal 1 ground transportation services, including:
- taxis
- ride share
- courtesy vehicles
- rental car buses
"We've started construction. On the new Terminal 1, which is going to replace the existing Terminal 1 and provide a much more efficient facility,” said Sabrina Lopiccolo, Senior Communication Specialist.
Will be temporarily relocated to an area in the former Terminal 1 parking lot, the airport's Sabrina LoPiccolo said. All passengers using these services will need to cross the Terminal 1 crosswalk and walk toward the parking lot area.
Private vehicles will be routed through the current Terminal 1 transportation islands to drop off or pick up passengers. Passengers will be instructed to use the crosswalk located in front of Terminal 1 to access either the terminal or private vehicles.
"Terminal 1 was first built in 1967, and in that year, it served 2.5 million passengers. But in 2019, just before the pandemic, we saw 25.2 million passengers," said LoPiccolo. "This is a destination where many people want to come to, we have many international flights and so we're just going to continue to grow, and we really need to add this capacity and make a terminal that can fulfill and hold the passengers that we currently have,"
Expect congestion and delays
"Everyone coming to the airport -- whether flying, picking up or dropping off -- should prepare for congestion and delays," LoPiccolo said. "Plan to arrive early and use caution when traveling through the work area. Volunteers will be stationed outside Terminal 1 to assist arriving and departing passengers."
Parking at the airport will be extremely limited. Here are some suggested options for passengers:
- Use public transit to the airport. Try the free San Diego Flyer shuttle, a last-mile connection between the Old Town Transit Center and the airport. MTS will also offer free rides on the 992 bus from the airport to downtown through Labor Day.
- Get dropped off or picked up by friends or family. Taxi, Lyft, Uber or other rideshare options are good alternatives.
- If parking at the airport, make parking reservations. They can be made for the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza or valet. If parking in the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza but flying from Terminal 1, passengers can ride the Terminal Loop Shuttle, which transports passengers between the two terminals. Reservations can be made at san.org/parking.
The new Terminal 1 Parking Plaza is expected to open in the fall of 2024.
WATCH RELATED: Terminal 1 parking lot closes at San Diego International Airport as construction continues (June 2022).