Sea-Tac construction will never be "done"
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The work is never done. Photo: Christine Clarridge/Axios
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is in the thick of a rolling five-year, $5 billion capital program, but officials say the work won't ever really be "done."
Why it matters: Passenger traffic at SEA continues to set records, and the region is preparing for global attention with the 2026 World Cup.
- Keeping pace with demand means near-constant upgrades to security, terminals and roads, Perry Cooper, spokesperson for the Port of Seattle, tells Axios.
What they're saying: It's like upgrading your house one room at a time while living in it, said Cooper.
- "Airport directors like to say they thought they signed on to be airport directors but soon realized they manage construction companies with an airport on the side," Cooper said.
State of play: The airport just wrapped two projects and is close on a third, per Cooper.
- The Checkpoint 1 expansion, which opened this summer, helped push wait times down so that 99% of passengers cleared security in under 30 minutes this year, compared to 80% in 2023, per Cooper.
- Restroom renovations, begun in 2018, added four new facilities, upgraded nine more, and included new all-gender restrooms. The final phase debuted this month on Concourse D.
- The SEA Gateway project is rolling out in phases with new ticketing halls, baggage claim devices and a 60-foot-long digital art wall. A redesigned Checkpoint 6 is slated to open before Thanksgiving.
Behind the scenes: Construction is also happening out of view in the C Concourse, where four floors of dining, retail and performance space are slated to be done next year.
- The S Concourse Evolution — a full redo of the 1970s concourse — isn't expected until 2036, Cooper said.
What's next: The goal is to have the most visible projects ready before the 2026 World Cup, says Cooper.