CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Changes are coming to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in an effort to help alleviate long traffic back-ups, especially with the holiday travel surge around the corner.
It comes after major traffic backups and delays during the Thanksgiving travel rush -- the airport saw local passenger traffic exceed the local passenger traffic of 2022 by 18%.
A chaotic Thanksgiving travel season caused traffic issues around the terminal.
The traffic forced several travelers to abandon their cars and walk up to the terminal to make sure they made their flight. Issues Holly Fischer is hoping to avoid.
“Due to the traffic, it’s continual construction, it’s confusing," Fischer said. "It’s very challenging. Often times it makes me select another airport so that I don’t have to come here and deal with the traffic.”
Airport officials said the airport will be adjusting stoplight times at nearby intersections, rerouting portions of the airport shuttle bus operation to help with roadway congestion and additional staffing along the Terminal Curb Front.
Airport officials are also assessing the inbound roadway system for potential long-term improvements based on expected future growth.
Molly Driscoll is anticipating traveling through Charlotte Douglas more frequently in the near future and hopes the plans will ease traffic.
“I should hope it would help for the locals for sure," Driscoll said. "Depending on where you’re coming from if it’s a park and ride. I’m sure that it would help a great deal."
WCNC Charlotte asked Charlotte’s Department of Transportation about their role in helping traffic around the airport.
CDOT sent the following statement:
“The Charlotte Department of Transportation is working with the airport to help move traffic safely and efficiently with signal timing adjustments throughout this holiday season.”
Fischer believes the plans will make a big adjustment for travelers.
“I think that that would be amazing. I think that it would be very exciting. A lot more travelers would have less frustration and less irritation and be more willing to travel out of the airport," Fischer said.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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