by On Friday, a new on-airport road will be opened at San Diego International Airport, providing drivers with quicker and easier access to Terminals 1 and 2.
The new three-lane road will offer a continuous, high-capacity access to the ports without any crossings or traffic lights. The first phase of the $3.8 billion Terminal 1 rehabilitation project is scheduled to be unveiled in September, and this is one of its features.
Kimberly Becker, the CEO and president of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, stated in a news release that this is a major step in our dedication to improving the passenger experience and streamlining travel to SAN.
The new road is anticipated to improve traffic flow for commuters traveling to and from the airport by diverting 45,000 vehicles per day from North Harbor Drive once it opens on Friday.
Just west of the intersection with West Laurel Street on North Harbor Drive is the entry to the new on-airport road.
Cars traveling approaching the airport on West Laurel should merge straight with the on-airport route and bear to the right. Merging onto North Harbor Drive will no longer be an option for vehicles with the right-of-way to the on-airport roadway.
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Turn right at the intersection with North Harbor Drive after staying to the left on West Laurel to reach westbound North Harbor Drive.
Drivers heading west from downtown on North Harbor Drive should be advised that the new access will be much earlier than the existing airport entrance.
To make the new entrance easier for traffic to see, directional signs have been put strategically along West Laurel and North Harbor Drive:
- From North Harbor Drive (westbound): A large overhead sign will direct drivers to bear right to take the new airport entrance, with an additional small sign placed before the merge to direct drivers into the right lane.
- From West Laurel Street: An overhead sign will guide drivers to continue straight to access the airport on the new roadway, or to bear left heading to North Harbor Drive.
The road runs about a mile from the entrance to the parking lots and departure and arrival drop-offs at Terminal 1. To assist drivers, directional signs are positioned conspicuously along the road.
Drivers traveling west on North Harbor Drive will still be able to reach Terminal 1 via Harbor Island Drive and Terminal 2 via Spanish Landing if they fail to notice the new roadway’s entry.
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There will be no changes to the entrances for vehicles traveling east on North Harbor Drive from Point Loma. They are Harbor Island Drive for Terminal 1 and Spanish Landing for Terminal 2.
In late 2021, the Terminal 1 project’s groundbreaking ceremony was held.
