The new Concourse D is planned to have 19 gates designed for narrow-body aircraft, with the flexibility to adapt 18 of those gates into nine larger gates that can accommodate wide-body planes. Amenities include more than 20,000 sq ft of lounge space, 30,000 sq ft of commercial space and a 450-sq-ft children’s play area.

The plan also includes approximately $300 million in infrastructure improvements—such as a new central cooling facility located in the center of the airfield—as well as pavement and utility work.

“These improvements will minimize aircraft taxi times, optimize gates and keep travelers moving along to their global destinations,” said Michael McMurray, commissioner at the Chicago Dept. of Aviation.

A 40-ft-high atrium-like space connecting the building’s three levels is planned at the northern end of the 590,000-sq-ft concourse and will feature an oculus allowing daylight into the levels below. Concourse D also is planned to have tree-like structural columns, a nod to the apple orchard that once stood on the airport site.

Additional projects to be realized through ORDNext include demolition of Terminal 2 and replacing it with the O’Hare Global Terminal, building a second satellite concourse—a 24-gate Concourse E—and building a new underground tunnel to connect passengers, airport employees and baggage operations between the expanded facilities.

The $300-million Elevate T3 project, intended to introduce new amenities, security screening areas and accessibility for passengers with disabilities in the 85-gate Terminal 3 is also part of the overall plan. As ENR reported previously, the construction manager at-risk is COT3, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group LLC and W.E. O’Neil Construction Co. Construction of ElevateT3 is slated to be completed in 2027.

Upgrades to Terminal 5 also are underway and include a planned 10-gate eastern extension and a new six-story parking garage.

Site preparation work for Concourse D began in 2023, including construction of temporary taxiways, a new grade-separated roadway, the reconfiguration of Taxiway B and three temporary gates added to Concourse C, which opened last year. Major construction began in July, starting with the demolition of existing taxiways. Approximately six months of excavation is expected, setting the stage for vertical construction to begin in spring 2026.

“With the improvements we are making at Concourse D alone we are generating more than 3,800 construction jobs that create a ripple effect across Chicago’s entire community,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

While ORDNext was launched in 2018, McMurray said planning has been going on for much longer.

“Airport planning is not for the next year, it’s for the next generation,” he said. “If you’re not planning ahead, then you are falling behind the curve.”

Photo courtesy of Ozinga

Ozinga ready-mix drivers Richard Knight and Tom Boylan took home top honors at the Illinois Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (IRMCA) first annual driver rodeo, held Aug. 2 in East Peoria, Ill. Knight claimed 1st place, while Boylan secured 3rd.

The competition, hosted by the nonprofit trade organization, featured a written exam, a pretrip inspection and a series of skill-based challenges, including a tennis ball drive-through, tightest turn and chute hoops.

“We couldn’t be more proud of Richard and Tom for their outstanding performance at IRMCA’s first-ever driver rodeo,” said Matt Janas, vice president of operations for Ozinga. “They’re a great example of the skill, safety and pride that define Ozinga drivers. We’re honored to have them behind the wheel, and we’re excited to watch them represent our team on a national stage.”

Knight, based out of Ozinga’s Manteno, Ill., yard, has been with the company since 2015. Boylan, who works in the Lemont, Ill., yard, has been part of the Ozinga team since 2003. They were two of four of the company’s drivers to compete in the event.

Boylan says the contest was challenging.

“The most difficult thing was having to drive a truck I was unfamiliar with; it took me almost a minute to figure out how to put the thing into drive,” he says. “But winning did feel good.”

“I had a great time competing, and I’m glad I was able to represent Ozinga well,” Knight says. “I hope I can do it again next year.”

Both will represent Ozinga at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) ConcreteWorks driver rodeo slated for October in Aurora, Colo.