Major construction at new Terminal 1 at SAN will impact visitors going to and from the airport
Major construction on the new Terminal 1 at SAN will impact visitors going to and from the airport
The following information has been shared by the San Diego International Airport with the Mission Hills BID and Mission Hills Parking Advisory Committee. Significant traffic delays are anticipated beginning June 5, 2022. Due to the proximity of the airport to Mission Hills, parking and transportation could be impacted within Mission Hills during the construction period.
From San Diego International Airport Representatives:
The summer travel season is just around the corner, and many of you might be planning trips. If you will be using San Diego International Airport (SAN) this summer, I wanted to make sure you were aware that major construction on the new Terminal 1 project will impact visitors going to and from the airport.
The New T1 will replace the current outdated Terminal 1 and will provide the customer experience people expect from San Diego’s international airport. I sincerely ask that you “please excuse our dust” while we work hard to make the New T1 a reality for you.
Construction will bring significant change to the roads in front of Terminal 1 beginning in June. If I could give you any advice, it’s to plan ahead and to leave plenty of time to navigate the airport before your flight. The airlines that operate out of T1 include Southwest, Frontier, Sun Country and Spirit.
On June 5, the Terminal 1 parking lot will be closed to incoming traffic. This is to begin emptying the lot in preparation for construction of a new parking structure on the site. As of June 15, the Terminal 1 parking lot will be permanently closed. This means the only on-site parking at the airport will be in the Terminal 2 Parking Plaza or valet. We anticipate opening the New Terminal 1 parking plaza in the fall of 2024.
Here are some options for getting to and from SAN.
If parking at SAN, make parking reservations ahead of time. Reservations 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 in an efficient manner. Reservations can be made at san.org/parking. The New T1 Parking Plaza is expected to open fall of 2024.
Take public transit to the airport. There are more ways than ever to get to and from the airport on public transit. Consider taking the free San Diego Flyer shuttle which is a convenient last-mile connection between the Old Town Transit Center and the airport, and it’s 100% electric. MTS will be offering free rides on its 992 bus from the airport to Santa Fe Depot (one way only) Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Get dropped off/picked up. Have friends or family drop you off/pick you up, or use a taxi, Lyft, Uber or other rideshare options. Please be sure those dropping off or picking up have been made aware of construction-related changes to save time and reduce stress. Again, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport to navigate the construction in front of Terminal 1.
Use an offsite parking lot. There are several nearby private parking operators that offer shuttle service to SAN. Find a list of operators at san.org/parking.
Picking up? The Cell Phone Lot has moved to the other end of the airport at 2311 McCain Road and offers a convenient place to wait for your party to arrive. With congestion in front of the terminals, the Cell Phone Lot is a convenient alternative to circling. Don’t forget, the lot has moved to the west side of the airport. Coming west on Harbor Drive, go past Terminal 2 and take a right on McCain Road and follow the signs.
The construction will be an inconvenience, but I promise the result will be worth it. I ask that you pack your patience as we work to make SAN better. To learn more about construction impacts, timing your trip to the airport, transit options, and more, visit NewT1.com. While you’re on the site, sign up for our email newsletters which will keep you updated on project milestones and construction impacts. You can also text “Updates” to 36017 for SMS alerts.
Happy travels!