DIA opens new east security checkpoint and closes busy south lanes
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The new east security checkpoint on Level 6. Photos: Courtesy of Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport's brand new 17-lane east security checkpoint opens Tuesday, replacing the heavily trafficked south checkpoint.
Why it matters: The move marks a major milestone in the airport's $2.1 billion Great Hall renovation project, set to wrap in 2027.
How it works: Travelers will now be routed through either the east or west checkpoints, both on Level 6.
- After screening, travelers can take the new triple escalator to catch the train — or reach Concourse A by crossing the A-Bridge, which reopens Tuesday after an eight-month closure during construction.
Details: The new checkpoint — a mirror image of the west security checkpoint, which opened in early 2024 — has three separate entrances categorized by traveler group:
- East security 1: For standard passengers
- East security 2: For restricted access, including DEN Reserve, military, passengers with disabilities and Clear customers without TSA PreCheck
- East security 3: For TSA PreCheck and Clear customers with TSA PreCheck
What they're saying: The new checkpoint "will improve the safety and security of the screening process and provide a more efficient experience for passengers," Douglas Cruz, TSA's federal security director for Colorado, said in a statement.
Zoom in: The south security checkpoint will largely be nonoperational as of Tuesday.
- However, south PreCheck lanes will remain open "intermittently" based on TSA staffing and passenger demand through Sept. 2 before permanently closing, DIA spokesperson Ashley Forest told Axios Denver.
- All equipment will remain in place through that date in case it's needed.
The big picture: DIA is now the third busiest airport in the U.S. and sixth worldwide. Its $2 billion renovation is aimed at scaling up for continued growth.
What's next: Eight more security lanes are slated to open on the north end of Level 5 in late summer 2026.
What we're watching: A $15 million National Environmental Policy Act study remains underway to explore a potential overhaul of Peña Boulevard — the 11-mile artery that connects DIA to the city, state and region, according to airport officials.