Chicago aldermen recently approved a $4-billion bond issue to begin preconstruction on an $8.5-billion overhaul of O’Hare International Airport. If completed as planned in eight years, it will be the biggest and most expensive reconstruction in the history of the 73-year-old airport.
The overhaul, dubbed O’Hare 21 by the city, will double the airport’s size by adding 3.1 million sq ft, add a new customs processing center in a new global terminal that will replace the existing Terminal 2, renovate three other existing terminals, add 25% more ramp space at gates to accommodate larger aircraft, increase the gate count to 235 from 185 and add two new remote satellite concourses.