Something to Smile about in July
Work in Progress: Constructing the Curvy “Cassettes”
PDX always seems to do things a little differently than most other airports. That’s especially true when it comes to building the new main terminal, which is equally impressive for its architectural vision as its many construction challenges.
The curvy roof and the lattice wooden ceiling are two defining elements in the new renderings. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these striking designs have required teams to come up with some pretty ingenious solutions. Read the full story about the problem-solving, fabrication and ongoing assembly process.
Construction Impacts to Expect
For your safety, do not enter construction areas. To avoid serious injury, never cross a construction rope, barricade or fence to enter a construction site. We don’t want you to get hurt!
To help you plan for what’s ahead, we’re listing construction impacts in order by date. These updates are posted once a month, but information is constantly evolving – you’re encouraged to check back periodically to see what’s new, noted in red.
Global Entry Relocates to NE Alderwood
Last week, the Global Entry office moved from the mezzanine level. They are now open inside the Customs and Border Protection offices at 8337 NE Alderwood Road.
Security Badging, Police, TSA and More Move to Rental Car Center
You’ve heard about the flexible transportation improvements coming soon to PDX, but did you know that the new Rental Car Center – RCC for short –will also be the new home for several offices formerly located on the mezzanine level of the terminal and in the Port of Portland headquarters building?
The most important move for airport employees to know about is Security Badging. Starting Tuesday, July 27, if you need to renew or replace your badge, you’ll take a new route. To help you get there, we made a short video and wrote down these easy-to-follow directions:
- Walk through the south tunnel and take the new stairs or escalators on your right. Look for signs for the Rental Car Center and Security Badging.
- Cross the covered walkway. [After it’s installed later this month, you’ll pass right by Ben Butler’s artwork, “Growth,” crafted from locally-sourced wood.]
- Use the door to your right to enter the building.
- Take the elevator to the fourth floor.
- Upon exiting the elevator, turn left and follow the signs to Security Badging.
IMPORTANT: To prepare for the move, Security Badging will close at noon on Thursday, July 22, and re-open in their new space at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27. Although the address will be different, contact information and operating hours remain the same.
The Port Police made their move to the third floor of the RCC over the July 17 weekend, and Airport Operations will move over the weekend of July 24. Other groups headed to the RCC include TSA, Comm Center and Information & Paging. All teams will have moved in by late August.
Crane Work May Affect Early Mornings Routes
If you work at PDX during the wee hours of the morning – specifically 1 to 3 a.m. – you might notice some route changes starting Monday, August 2.
Over the course of two weeks*, a crane in the PDX alleyway will reach over the airport and pick up giant pieces of HVAC ductwork and place them safely on the ticket lobby roof for future installation. This means the area underneath each ductwork drop on the baggage claim, ticket lobby and mezzanine levels will need to be closed off. Our number one priority is to make sure everyone stays safe!
*Work on this project is scheduled to start on Monday, August 2 and will cover nine nights over a two-week period with weekends off. Weather and wind may delay and extend the work time. No matter what, work will always end at 3 a.m.
What this means for you
In good news, there’s only one Alaska flight arriving and one Alaska flight departing during the hours of 1 to 3 a.m. If you arrive or depart during those times, your route may be impacted.
You might see a sign that says “The skybridge is closed” with directions for an alternate route. In addition to wayfinding signage, you’ll see spotters and other folks directing passengers, as well as orange netting keeping people out of the area. Alaska passengers may have a different route to baggage claim and will temporarily be using different carousels.
Want real-time updates? Once the crane work begins you can check pdx.com/conditions to see the current status. You can also sign up for relevant alerts and view other PDX notifications.
Stay Knowledgeable with Tips for Travelers
Working at PDX, you’ve no doubt noticed a lot of changes. And, as summer travel picks up, visitors who haven’t flown in a while are noticing these changes too. You can continue providing top-notch service by helping puzzled passengers make their way through PDX with ease. Check out these animated tips for travelers that feature three helpful hints:
- Give yourself extra time to get to your gate.
- Make sure you follow signs to the security checkpoint matching your boarding pass.
- Masks are still required at PDX. Even if you’re vaccinated, masks are still required in airports and on airplanes.
Keep these suggestions in mind during your interactions with passengers, and help us spread the word by sharing the video with friends and family on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Read more about what we’re doing to keep travelers moving around airport construction.
Get the Latest PDX Next News in 30 Minutes
Want the inside scoop on construction at PDX? Jen Reynolds with the Port of Portland along with Pat Bifone and Caitlin Powell of Hoffman-Skanska will share the latest construction updates and answer your questions about PDX Next in just 30 minutes. They’ll even give you an early look at architectural renderings and share some behind-the-scenes photos and videos!
Grab a cup of coffee on the last Tuesday of every month and join us to learn how we’re bringing new airport designs to life together. The next update is scheduled for Tuesday, August 31 at 10:30 a.m. Use this link to join the meeting on August 31.
Missed the July forum? Watch the recording now.
Questions?
Have questions or suggestions about the construction happening at PDX? Email hello@pdxnext.com or call the construction hotline at 503.460.4339
