Whether you're catching a vacation flight or grabbing a meal before takeoff, getting around Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport should soon be a little less stressful.
The airport has officially opened its new East-West Connector, a roadway designed to improve traffic flow and create a more direct route through the airport's southern corridor. For frequent travelers from Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, and surrounding areas, the project could mean fewer bottlenecks when heading to the terminals, the rental car space, or the airport's growing collection of restaurants and businesses.
The new 1.65-mile connector links State Highway 161 and State Highway 360 by extending Rental Car Drive from International Parkway's South Service Road to Harwood Drive. While the stretch itself is relatively short, airport leaders say it fulfills a transportation plan that has been in the works for nearly two decades, and is expected to ease congestion while improving access to future commercial development around the airport.
The roadway is one of many projects included in DFW Forward, the airport's $12 billion modernization initiative that will bring expanded terminals, upgraded roadways and an improved passenger experience in the years ahead. Over the past year, DFW Airport has also expanded its dining lineup with several notable additions, including Portillo's, bringing one of the Midwest's favorite hot dog and Italian beef chains to Terminal B.