‘A carefully choreographed dance:’ Gates reopen, gates close at O’Hare amid major construction

Posted July 03, 2026 5:12 pm

Marni Pyke

How do you reopen three Terminal 1 gates, close two others and shift a taxiway at the nation’s busiest airport?

Very precisely, Chicago Department of Aviation officials explained.

Gates B1, B2, and B3 at O’Hare International Airport opened to passengers Wednesday morning for the first time since September after being closed to accommodate underground utility work for the new Concourse D and other projects.

The reorganization, occurring just before the July Fourth holiday rush, was executed by construction crews without disrupting flight operations, the city said.

“Building one of the largest airport expansions in North America in the heart of the world’s busiest airfields is a carefully choreographed dance,” CDA Commissioner Michael McMurray said.

About 1.95 millions travelers are expected at O’Hare and Midway International Airport between July 1 and Monday, a 7% increase from 2025. The busiest day at O’Hare will be Sunday and Midway’s peak comes on Monday.

The $1.455 billion Concourse D, located at the airport’s southwest end, will offer 19 gates and initially connect with Terminal 1’s Concourse C by a bridge.

As the three gates went live, workers were also shifting a taxilane, used by planes to maneuver between Concourses B and C, to the east.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Terminal 1, a team closed Gates C1 and C3 to make way for the new bridge.

“In just a few overnight hours, our teams reopened gates, shifted an active taxilane and prepared the next phase of construction before the morning rush to kick off Independence Day weekend,” McMurry said in a statement.

“That level of precision, coordination and expertise is how we are delivering ORDNext safely, efficiently and without disrupting the traveling public.”

The city reopened gates at O'Hare's Terminal 1 this week that were closed for construction. Courtesy Chicago Department of Aviation

ORDNext includes a Global Terminal with international flights that will replace Terminal 2, and Concourse E, which will be west of Concourse D and connect with a tunnel.

The two airports are also seeing a spurt in destinations this summer.

• Egypt Air launched new nonstop flights from O’Hare to Cairo International Airport June 24.

• Volaris Airlines announced nonstop service from Midway to San Luis Potosi, in central Mexico on June 2.

• Air Canada began service from O’Hare to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on June 1.