Midway Airport Roadways

[roadman65]

I was noticing that Midway Airport is now more modern then it was back in the 1990's.  It has a brand new terminal that is located east of IL 50, with that highway now scrunched between the gates and terminal.  When I drove IL 50 in 1993, the terminal was on the same side of the street as the airport.  There was even a small parking area in front of it as well, if I remember it correctly.

Now according to GSV there is flyover ramps  leading into the addition from IL 50 and dual level loading and unloading roadways just like in the other many large city airports.  Plus a giant parking garage is built behind the terminal with a subway station now that serves the CTA Orange Line into the city connecting the facility with The Loop.

I unfortunately cannot find any info on what year the whole airport was renovated including wiki which just covers the addition of the concourses and gates, but no info on the new across the street terminal.  Was wondering from the Chicago area road enthusiasts when did this big change take place?

[pianocello]

The Orange Line was introduced in 1993, so I assume that happened at around the same time as the renovations to the airport. I'm not exactly sure, though.

[SSOWorld]

https://www.clarkconstruction.com/our-work/projects/midway-airport-terminal-concourse

[froggie]

I flew out of Midway after boot camp in 1994.  Terminal was still on the west side of Cicero at that time...

[roadman65]

Thanks SSO, the link helped. 

Also nice job they did.  Building a terminal across a busy arterial like Cicero Avenue and having the check ins and baggage claim across the street while connecting them with a climate controlled overpass over that roadway is ingenious.

I am always a sucker for airport designs.  Too bad since 911 you have to be a ticketed passenger to see certain areas and in some cases fly in from another country to see the design of the sterile pre export control areas of the terminals as US Immigration does not even allow open windows to the unsecured public to see inside if their are windows present.  So definitely that international arrivals area is out of my league as I plan not to leave the US anytime soon and enough times to fly into all the major airports from foreign destinations.

[thenetwork]

The Orange Line was introduced in 1993, so I assume that happened at around the same time as the renovations to the airport. I'm not exactly sure, though.

I, too flew into Midway in the mid-90s and took the Orange Line to/from the loop.  Everything at the time was crammed into the original terminal, and there was what seemed to be a l-o-n-g trek from said terminal to the train platform, despite moving sidewalks. 

Looking at the overhead shot as it stands today on GSV, it's still a long hike from gate to platform, but the distance from new terminal makes it look shorter.

[hobsini2]

I was noticing that Midway Airport is now more modern then it was back in the 1990's.  It has a brand new terminal that is located east of IL 50, with that highway now scrunched between the gates and terminal.  When I drove IL 50 in 1993, the terminal was on the same side of the street as the airport.  There was even a small parking area in front of it as well, if I remember it correctly.

Now according to GSV there is flyover ramps  leading into the addition from IL 50 and dual level loading and unloading roadways just like in the other many large city airports.  Plus a giant parking garage is built behind the terminal with a subway station now that serves the CTA Orange Line into the city connecting the facility with The Loop.

I unfortunately cannot find any info on what year the whole airport was renovated including wiki which just covers the addition of the concourses and gates, but no info on the new across the street terminal.  Was wondering from the Chicago area road enthusiasts when did this big change take place?

Fortuenately for you, I am a chauffeur and I do very well remember the days of the old terminal. The new terminal and roadway at Midway was opened about 2003. To get to the Orange Line, people had to cross Cicero Ave at the old light exiting the airport, approximately just south of the current ped skyway where security is.

[lordsutch]

Looking at the overhead shot as it stands today on GSV, it's still a long hike from gate to platform, but the distance from new terminal makes it look shorter.

Alas, it's still a long trek; while there are moving walkways once you get past security, the bridge over Cicero lacks any. And they recently tore out the one moving walkway there was between the terminal and the Orange Line station, so it's a fairly lengthy, meandering walk from the terminal to the L.

No doubt all part of the city's devious plan to make everyone use O'Hare and pay the screw-tourists $5 fare.

[ET21]

Renovations took place during the late 90s and early 2000s. I can remember my dad cussing when I was in 2nd grade about the awful construction