Over the past few years, thousands of locals have come together to make PDX’s main terminal brighter, more spacious, and even more Northwest-centric. Now we’re looking forward to showing you what we’ve all been up to!

This May, we’re tearing down some of the construction walls to let everyone explore PDX’s Northwest-y new designs. Soon, you’ll soon be able to wander amid the trees and stare up at the clouds through skylights in the Douglas fir roof. 

You’ll find even more local shops and restaurants at PDX and greet the return of favorite features like the passageway between all four concourses and the original carpet.

We’re opening the new designs in two separate phases so you can experience the good stuff as soon as it's finished. The disruptions may not be over, but the “Wows” will multiply every time you visit.

Meet the Maker: Hoffman Skanska’s Jason Koski

Jason Koski, general supervisor for Hoffman Skanska, has been on the planning team for the airport’s expansion since the beginning. He likes to compare the difficulty of working on an operating airport to conducting surgery. In our Q&A, Jason tells us why it made sense for the construction crews to build the terminal in phases, the technical challenges that have kept him up at night, and what it’s like to walk through the terminal as May 2024 approaches. 

Work in progress: Making waves in the terrazzo floors

While we’re glad to see the iconic carpet coming home to PDX, we’re also excited to watch the artisans from Corradini Corporation pour the terminal’s terrazzo floors. Terrazzo — stone flecks embedded in an epoxy base that meets LEED certification standards — has a lower carbon footprint than carpet over its lifetime. We’re installing this smooth flooring in high-traffic areas to make it easier for wheelchairs and roller bags to glide through the airport. The gentle white wave patterns that flow east to west also evoke the rushing waters of the Columbia River. And they’ll subtly help guide you from the entrance back to the security checkpoints.

Question: With all the changes at PDX, when I fly into Portland, where do I catch a ride? 

Answer: Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to reduce traffic on Airport Way by eliminating shuttles and making it easier to pick up taxis, rideshares, and rental cars. We’ve moved a lot around, but the good news is that we’re almost done! Here’s where to go once you land at PDX:

Taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts: From the baggage claim area, take the tunnel below the roadway to the new Transportation Plaza in the short-term parking garage. There, signage will direct you to the right pickup spot.

Rental cars: Take the south tunnel from baggage claim area to our new Rental Car Center, connected to the long-term parking garage. 

MAX Red Line: From now until March 4, 2024, TriMet is putting the final touches on major improvements to the MAX Red Line. Catch a shuttle bus at the airport’s MAX station (at the south end of the terminal), and then transfer to a train at the Gateway Transit Station. 

For more details on all these options — as well as town cars and bicycles — visit flypdx.com/groundtransportation. 

Got something on your mind? Keep your questions coming! Ask us anything (hello@pdxnext.com) and we’ll do our best to get you answers. We'll share the most-asked questions in future newsletters.