Navigating AUS During Construction: Your Friendly Guide to Getting Around the Airport

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is in the middle of a major transformation as part of the Journey With AUS expansion program, and if you’ve been through the airport campus lately, you’ve probably noticed: things are changing fast.

That’s a good thing for the future of travel in Austin. But in the meantime, we know construction can feel a little confusing when you’re just trying to catch a flight or pick someone up.

So, here’s your simple, no-stress guide to what’s happening right now, and how to move through the Barbara Jordan Terminal and the rest of campus like a pro.

🚗 First stop: entering campus - Yellow Garage area

If you’re driving in through Presidential Boulevard, your first encounter with construction is the Yellow Garage project, which is right next to the Blue Garage.

This is a busy construction zone, so here’s what to expect:

• Traffic patterns shifting around the Blue Garage exits
• Flaggers helping guide drivers at times
• Lower speeds through the construction area
• More vehicles and crews working close to roadways

The big picture: we’re building a brand-new 7,000-space parking garage, plus a pedestrian bridge connecting to the Blue Garage. But until it’s done in early 2027, the key takeaway is simple:

👉 Slow down, stay alert, and follow all posted directions in the construction area.

🧭 Inside the terminal: Atrium Infill is front and center

Once you’re inside, the most visible project right now is the Atrium Infill, located between Checkpoints 2 and 3 on the non-secure side.

If you’ve walked through the Departures Hall lately, you’ve definitely seen it. This project sits right in the middle of the terminal on the non-secure side.

What it’s doing long-term:

• Expanding the terminal by more than 12,000 sq. ft.
• Creating more room for TSA lines, airline ticket counter lines and passenger queues  
• Helping reduce congestion during busy travel times
• Installing a new, beautiful permanent piece of art through the City of Austin Arts in Public Places program

What you might notice today:

• Temporary walls and construction barriers
• Adjusted queue lines
• A slightly different flow when the terminal gets busy

It’s all building toward a smoother, more comfortable pre-security experience once complete in 2026.

🧳 West side of the terminal: new space on the way

Over on the west side of the Barbara Jordan Terminal, once you pass security, you’ll find the West Gate Expansion project underway.

This project is adding:

• New restrooms
• More seating and waiting space
• A new west side outdoor patio that will be open to all ticketed travelers and airport employees
• A quiet room for travelers who need a break
• Three gates to help support future operations (already open and operating!)

It’s a big expansion, about 84,500 square feet, and it’s scheduled to wrap up in 2026.

If you’re flying from this side of the terminal, you may see active construction by the gate areas or notice spaces taking shape behind barriers. That’s all part of the finishing build-out of amenities.

This project will also add the necessary square feet for American Airlines to debut a new Admirals Club, which you can learn more about here in their press release.

✈️ The part you might not see: taxiways (but they matter a lot)

Now for one of the most important behind-the-scenes projects: the New Midfield Taxiways.

You may not notice much from the inside of the terminal, but if you’re near gates 17–21 and glance outside the windows, you might catch some construction activity.

So, what are taxiways?

Think of them as the airport’s “roads” for airplanes:

• They help planes move between gates and runways
• They keep airfield traffic organized and safe
• They make future construction possible

These new taxiways are what we call an “enabling project,” meaning they have to be completed before we can build the next big phase of the expansion program, including the Concourse B & Tunnel project.

🌱The bottom line

AUS is growing at a rapid pace. And while that means a lot of construction right now, every project underway is part of building a better airport experience for the future.

More projects will continue rolling out over the next few years as we prepare for major expansions expected into the early 2030s.

For now, consider this your go-to guide for what’s happening today and how to navigate the AUS campus with confidence.

Thanks for rolling with us as we build the future of travel for Austin and the Central Texas region, one project at a time.