New signal-free roadway promises faster access to San Diego International Airport
A view of the new access from Laurel Street and North Harbor Drive onto San Diego International Airport Photo courtesy of San Diego County Airport Authority The San Diego International Airport will open a new on-airport roadway Friday offering drivers faster direct access to Terminals and Designed with no intersections or traffic lights the new three-lane road will provide an uninterrupted high-capacity trail to the terminals It is one feature of the billion Terminal redevelopment project with the first phase set to be unveiled in September This is a important milestone in our commitment to enhancing the tourist experience and making movement to SAN more efficient Kimberly Becker CEO and president of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority revealed in a news release After it opens Friday the new roadway is expected to divert vehicles per day from North Harbor Drive improving traffic flow for both airport and local commuters The entrance to the new on-airport roadway is located on North Harbor Drive just west of the intersection with West Laurel Street Vehicles on West Laurel headed toward the airport should bear to the right and will merge directly with the on-airport roadway Vehicles bearing right to access the on-airport roadway will no longer have the option to merge onto North Harbor Drive To access westbound North Harbor Drive stay to the left on West Laurel and then turn right at the intersection with North Harbor Drive Westbound drivers on North Harbor Drive from downtown should be aware that they will come upon the new entrance significantly earlier than the current airport entrance Directional signs are strategically placed along both North Harbor Drive and West Laurel to help drivers see the new entrance From North Harbor Drive westbound A large overhead sign will direct drivers to bear right to take the new airport entrance with an additional small sign placed before the merge to direct drivers into the right lane From West Laurel Street An overhead sign will guide drivers to continue straight to access the airport on the new roadway or to bear left heading to North Harbor Drive From the entrance the roadway stretches approximately one mile to Terminal departure and arrival drop-offs and parking Directional signs are prominently placed along the roadway to help guide drivers Drivers on westbound North Harbor Drive who miss the entrance to the new roadway still will be able to access Terminal via Harbor Island Drive and Terminal via Spanish Landing The entrances for drivers on eastbound North Harbor Drive coming from Point Loma will not change They are Spanish Landing for Terminal and Harbor Island Drive for Terminal Groundbreaking for the Terminal project took place in late
