Detroit Metropolitan Airport announces road construction projects and campus improvements
Customers encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time when driving to DTW
DETROIT (June 9, 2017) – Customers heading to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) will need to allow extra drive time due to road construction projects impacting the rental car area and the airport’s northern gateway. Work on Lucas Drive, which provides access to the rental car lots, is currently underway. Construction on Rogell Drive, the roadway that leads drivers from I-94 through the northern section of DTW’s campus, will begin June 12.
“Approximately 75 percent of the airport’s visitors enter from I-94 via Merriman Road,” said Tom McCarthy, Airport Authority Vice President of Facilities Design and Construction. “We know customers may encounter traffic delays on our campus as a result of the construction. So, we’re urging them to head to DTW earlier than usual while we’re improving our roadways, especially during the busy summer travel season.”
The work is necessary to enhance roadway safety and capacity, improve traveler access and wayfinding, while also modernizing the airport’s infrastructure.
“Travelers can look forward to new overhead signs that are easier to understand and will improve wayfinding to the terminals,” said Kelly Ferencz, Airport Authority Deputy Director of Facilities Design and Construction. “We’re also reconstructing the entrance of our parking structure near the North Terminal, the Big Blue Deck. With each project, we’re trying to create a sense of place. When drivers reach DTW, we want them to feel welcome and know they’ve arrived at Michigan’s largest airport.”
Customers will begin to notice traffic shifts and lane closures on Rogell Drive around July 5. At that time, travelers flying out of the McNamara Terminal should use I-275’s Eureka Road exit to access the airport. By entering on the south end of DTW’s campus, customers can avoid Rogell Drive. The McNamara Terminal is home to Delta Air Lines, Air France and Aeromexico.
Most roadway construction is scheduled to end before Thanksgiving. Until then, the Airport Authority wants customers to keep the following tips in mind.
- Arrive early and allow extra time to navigate through the campus
- Utilize cell phone waiting lots and short-term parking to reduce congestion
- Use Middlebelt Road to access the rental car facilities
- “Arrive 275” – Beginning July 5, use I-275’s Eureka Road exit to reach the airport, if flying out of the McNamara Terminal
Travelers can stay up-to-date on the latest airport construction and traffic advisories by visiting metroairport.com, michigan.gov/drive and Twitter (@DTWeetin and @MDOT_MetroDet).
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) welcomed more than 34 million passengers in 2016 and is one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs. With service from 13 scheduled passenger airlines, Michigan’s largest airport offers more than 1,100 flights per day to and from more than 140 nonstop destinations on four continents. With two award-winning passenger terminals, six jet runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin Hotel, DTW is among the world’s most efficient, customer friendly and operationally capable airports in North America. DTW is operated by Wayne County Airport Authority, which also operates nearby Willow Run Airport – an important corporate, cargo and general aviation facility. The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive tax dollars to support airport operations. Visit metroairport.com for more information.