Pricey Trump-Driven Overhaul of Dulles Gets Greenlight
Newser • • business
Key Points:
- The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has approved a $15.5 billion budget for a major overhaul of Dulles International Airport, with the total project cost potentially reaching $20 billion.
- The renovation includes $3.75 billion for underground tunnels to replace the current "people movers" that transport passengers across the tarmac.
- The plan features over 5 million square feet of new or updated space, full replacement of Concourses C and D, and cosmetic upgrades such as gold-mirrored ceilings, while preserving the iconic 1962 main terminal with $6.2 million in improvements.
- Funding will primarily come from municipal bonds and passenger fees, with no federal dollars expected; the main terminal reconstruction is set to begin next year, and tunnel completion is projected for 2034.
- The Dulles renovation is part of several Washington airport upgrades supported by President Trump and is more than twice the cost of LaGuardia Airport’s recent overhaul.
