Project O'Hare 21

By: Hannah Mitchell

Due 11/22/22

                                                                                                                Courtesy of ord21.com

On November 21st, Maddie Ellis, a contributor of The Chicago Tribune revealed that the city of Chicago received the green light to redevelop O’Hare International Airport due to its compliance with environmental factors. Federal aviation officials determined the proposed project would not have a “significant” negative environmental impact, according to Mayor Lori Lightfoot. This approval now allows the modernization of O’Hare, also known as O'Hare 21. According to ord21.com, O'Hare 21 is Chicago's vision for a modern airport that will be an efficient and accessible international gateway from Chicago to the rest of the world.

The O’Hare 21 project also involves tearing down the oldest terminal, terminal 2. It will be replaced with a Global Terminal. Construction on the Global Terminal will double the amount of space in Terminal 2. In order to receive any licensing or permit, the Federal Aviation Administration conducts an environmental assessment that evaluates any risk from the construction proposal.

The first phase of construction consists of building two satellite concourses for Terminal 2’s existing operations. This includes Air Canada, United Airlines, JetBlue and formerly Delta Airlines, which relocated. A news release from Lightfoot shares that the satellite concourses are estimated to be completed in 2027 and 2028.

Lightfoot shared, “Passing the environmental impact report was a “key milestone” toward the city’s now $12.1 billion plan to bring state-of-the-art global terminal, dozens of new gates and several additional concourses to O’Hare.” 

The FAA also shares that the plans should reduce taxi times, which decrease the amount of emissions at the airport.

Lightfoot shares the construction plans for the new terminals will need more than 26,000 workers.

Not only will this have a rather positive impact on the environment, but it will create an influx of employment opportunities as well.

Through this project, O'Hare will grow into a 21st century design for airports and will provide a role model for many other airports in the future.