Inside Portland International Airport’s final main terminal construction phase, with openings and traveler impacts through 2026
PDX main terminal project enters its final stretch
Portland International Airport’s multi-year main terminal rebuild is moving through its last construction phase, following the opening of the project’s first stage in August 2024. The remaining work is focused on the north and south ends of the terminal—areas that were closed after the initial opening so crews could remove older facilities and complete the full build-out while the airport remains in operation.
The airport has described the final stage as the point when construction walls come down, permanent circulation patterns are restored, and travelers can use completed exit routes and post-security spaces on both ends of the terminal. Current planning materials place the end of this phase in early 2026.
What opened in 2024—and what is still under construction
The first phase delivered a reconfigured front-of-house experience: new airline check-in areas, a large pre-security public space often referred to as the Market Hall, updated security screening areas, and initial waves of local retail and dining. This opening also reshaped passenger flows by closing older security stations and shifting movements into new screening locations and connecting corridors.
With the airport continuing to operate at full scale, the staged approach has required temporary detours, including walkway routes that keep passengers separated from construction zones while still providing access to gates and concourses.
Key elements expected with the final phase
Completion of the remodeled north and south ends of the main terminal, replacing areas tied to older security and lobby layouts.
Permanent exit lanes and improved vertical circulation, including additional escalators and elevators linking to the arrivals/baggage-claim level.
Additional post-security shopping and dining zones, adding to the businesses that began opening during and after the 2024 phase.
Expanded all-user restroom areas designed for privacy, alongside other passenger-comfort improvements.
Removal of remaining detour walkways once construction fencing and temporary routes are no longer needed.
How the final phase affects travelers now
Until the build is complete, passengers should expect a mix of finished and active-construction spaces, with routing determined by signage and operational needs. The airport’s construction updates indicate that some temporary paths and access patterns remain in place while crews complete structural and interior work at the terminal’s ends. In practical terms, that can mean longer walks than the final design intends, plus changing routes to security and between the terminal and concourses.
The project’s phased approach is intended to keep the airport functioning while major parts of the terminal are rebuilt and reconnected.
Looking beyond the terminal rebuild
In parallel with the construction program, the Port’s longer-range planning process for the airport is also underway, with a separate schedule that extends into early 2026. That planning effort is distinct from the terminal construction but reflects the region’s broader push to align facilities, passenger circulation, and future capacity needs.
For travelers, the most immediate milestone remains the early-2026 target for the main terminal’s full opening, when the last temporary walls and detours are expected to be removed and the complete terminal layout becomes the everyday experience.