Durbin, Duckworth Attend Groundbreaking Ceremony for Improvements at O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 3

Durbin, Duckworth Attend Groundbreaking Ceremony for Improvements at O'Hare International Airport's Terminal 3

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today attended the groundbreaking ceremony forO'Hare International Airport's Terminal 3 improvements project.

Roughly 45 percent of the $200 million Terminal 3 project will be financed through two Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Airport Terminal Program (ATP) grants totaling $90 million, which Durbin and Duckworth helped secure; a 2023 grant of $50 million, and a 2024 grant of $40 million. In 2023, the award to O'Hare was the largest single grant awarded to any airport in the country that cycle through ATP, and the 2024 grant was the second-largest that cycle.

"O'Hare has long been a critical hub for transportation, commerce, and tourism, with tens of millions of passengers passing through it each year," said Durbin. "This project will improve security, efficiency, and amenities at the airport and invest in its success for decades to come. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has provided us with a roadmap for the future, and we must continue to invest in our nation's infrastructure to ensure that America remains a global leader in the 21^st century."

"Keeping O'Hare strong means keeping Chicago strong, but it takes investment and commitment from all levels of government to support it," Duckworth said. "That's why I'm pleased Senator Durbin and I were able to work with the Illinois Congressional Delegation, through President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to help secure $90 million in federal funding forthe Terminal 3 Improvement Project. After years of neglecting our nation's infrastructure, I'm proud every day to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work rebuilding infrastructure all across our country. But if we're going to keep O'Hare's status as one of the best airports in the country - and the world - we can't let up."

The Terminal 3 project includes:

• The reconfiguration of two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints into a single screening area
• Tripling the passenger corridor width between Concourses K and L
• Expanding the hold room space at Gates K1 and L2A
• Upgrading the terminal's baggage facilities and systems
• Developing 10,000 square feet of new concessions and amenity spaces
• Renovating restrooms
• Making energy efficiency improvements

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