Harry Reid International Airport prepares a multibillion-dollar overhaul that could grow it from 39 to about 65 gates

What happened

Clark County Department of Aviation planners updated the Clark County Commission on a multibillion-dollar plan to modernize Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. It was the first update in about six months. The plan calls for growing the airport from 39 gates to an estimated 65, reworking existing terminals and improving traffic flow.

According to the Review-Journal, there is no set timeline for the work, and a cost estimate likely will not be ready until next year. Reid is the nation's eighth busiest airport, and officials plan to keep it running while construction moves through a series of phases.

Why officials say the airport needs work

Airport officials told the Review-Journal the upgrade is badly needed, especially at the A and B gates, where terminal buildings look worn. James Chrisley, Clark County director of aviation, said, "Reid was built for a different era of air travel." He said much of Terminal 1 was designed for the aircraft and passenger volumes of the 1990s and early 2000s.

The county is also preparing for a possible second commercial airport in the Ivanpah Valley, about 30 miles south of Las Vegas near Interstate 15. The Review-Journal reported that the Reid project is seen as a bridge to a two-airport system, with Ivanpah at least a decade away.

Projects already done or coming soon

Escalators, taxis and parking

One of the most visible changes is new elevators and escalators at Terminal 1. Chrisley said the project will add two escalators from baggage claim up to the walkway to the garage, plus two going down to passenger pickup, so people no longer have to cross a street busy with taxis.

Taxis will move to the opposite side of the building, and Uber and Lyft pickups will take their place, according to airport officials. That will free up ride-hailing lanes in the parking garage and add 330 parking spaces. The Review-Journal noted the garage often fills up on holidays and busy weekends.

Trams, food and restrooms

The driverless trams serving the C and D gates are 10 years old and have about 2 million miles on them. By the end of the year, six D gate trams and four C gate trams will be replaced by a Pittsburgh company, the Review-Journal reported. Additions at the A and C gates will bring a Starbucks, a Chick-fil-A, a pizza concept and a full-service bar.

Chrisley said the C gate addition also includes 40 more restroom stalls, raising restroom capacity there by about 30 percent. A 92,700-square-foot warehouse east of the terminals opened earlier this year as the first phase of a larger maintenance project.

Fire station and customs facility

A new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting station at the center of the airfield is set to start next year and finish by 2028. A Westside Customs and Border Protection facility and charter ramp are in planning to handle international private aircraft, including arrivals tied to events like the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. More local building news is in our development coverage.

Adding gates and paying for it

The biggest capacity gain will come from a new pier with about 11 gate spaces, built toward the empty area where Terminal 2 once stood. Once it opens, crews can convert the A and B gates from their circular satellite design to a straight pier layout with room for about 33 gates instead of the current 23. A county aviation administration building and parking garage come last, and Terminal 3 will then be renamed Terminal 2.

The county is expected to seek federal funding for much of the work while competing with other major airports. Vail, Colorado aviation consultant Mike Boyd told the Review-Journal that Reid's chances are good because of its track record and its role as a destination airport rather than an airline hub. Brendan Bussmann of Las Vegas-based B Global was more critical, saying, "We are 10 years behind in any modernization of LAS."

What to watch next

• A cost estimate for the modernization, which the Review-Journal reported likely will not come until next year.
• Replacement of 10 C and D gate trams, scheduled by the end of the year.
• Construction start on the new airfield fire station next year, with completion targeted by 2028.
• Clark County's bid for federal funding to cover much of the project.