The $12BN Battle to Rebuild Chicago O'Hare Airport

O'Hare Airport is getting a major upgrade! Chicago is investing $12 billion to modernize this busy travel hub, but the project, known as O'Hare 21, is facing some serious challenges.

This video explores the plans to transform O'Hare: a brand new Global Terminal, expanded concourses with more gates, and a redesigned runway system for better efficiency. We'll show you how these changes could make your travel experience smoother and more enjoyable.

However, O'Hare 21 has hit some turbulence. The budget has doubled, construction is behind schedule, and there are concerns about whether the final result will live up to expectations. We'll break down these issues and explain why airlines are worried about the rising costs.

Despite the setbacks, the city is pushing forward, hoping to solidify O'Hare's status as a world-class airport. But will they be able to deliver on their promises?

Watch to learn more about the future of O'Hare and share your thoughts in the comments. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more videos on major infrastructure projects!

#chicago #infrastructure #airport

[MegaBuilds]

What's the one thing you wish was different about O'Hare? Think this project will fix it?

[John-bilv]

They completed the construction of the run ways some time ago now.

[leftoverbacon]

Can we just get express trains directly to the airport already? We can do it for <1/2 billion & will yield impacts far exceeded its cost

[js]

At 1:10....that's an image of Toronto.
The Skydome (aka Rogers Centre) is to the right and the Gardiner Expressway is shown in the middle of the shot.

[tigertai]

I hope Ohare can accomplish this major task wishing them all the best 🎉

[stevencipriano]

They have started construction on the new satellite terminals already

[irwinsaltzman]

LaGuardia airport gates were completely redone . Besides the gate areas now having sufficient seats with sufficient bathroom facilities, the TSA area was upgraded so one gets thru it much quicker than the old airport. Also automobile access was drastically improved. Cost was 8 billion.

[pupwizard]

I live in Illinois and O'hare is always an embarrassment to me when I see how other airports are laid out. We just recently flew to Memphis and back home again from New Orleans. Both of those airports are so much more enjoyable to walk through, open, airy, well thought out. O'hare's terminals are like walking thru subway tunnels, little room for heavy passenger traffic in the corridors. It always infuriates me that it cost so much more to build those dingy corridors than what we see in other airports. Chicago corruption/waste is just legendary now. In my opinion, NO Chicago official should be involved in decisions to improve O'hare. They have proven, time and time again, that they are utterly incapable of making good decisions about any public project.

[robertw.previdi]

I don't understand how you can say the airport is struggling to keep up with the 21st century, when in the next sentence you outline how in 2018 the airport straightened out its six main runways? Okay, the terminal stuff is being delayed. But an airport needs runways in addition to terminals and it has completed that work, yes?

[Kushisgone]

Everyone forgets O'Hare and Chicago are first at doing and creating many things. O'Hare May need a facelift, but was the definition of modern. Other cities copy or have gone forward, and O'Hare will as well. A World Class Airport and is extremely busy. Quit complaining and enjoy what we have!

[Bikeguychicago]

If it's like any other infrastucture plan in IL, that $12B estimate will soon balloon to 5-6x its original cost by the time it's complete.

[jaimechavez]

This is a recycled video from several months ago. Also, 0:28 ORD is the 2nd busiest, not 5th.

[georgedoolittle]

A lot of pressure on this absolutely massive facility as Chicago Region has two other Airports tho nothing like this Facility one being Midway Airport which is far closer to City Center and the other in Indiana and more of an "executive Airport" but along beautiful Lake Michigan so far more presentable be that. Minneapolis, Detroit, Indianopolis all major Destinations now in this Region so finding actual flying passengers remains a very real challenge especially given how unpleasant flying anything but the Boeing 787 continues to be. Hopefully United Airlines can change all that for those flying into and out of the USA😊😊

[rogeliogamez]

I love our airport so many choices to choose from especially to Guadalajara to which I fly often good luck n good work

[SBent-ijmc]

Can Ohare update the signs within the airport to be modern and to make sense. Also can we get ride share services at more than just 1 terminal?

[williambradford]

I dont believe any project like this would be on budget anywhere .

[calipsycho]

All I have to say is I hope it comes out beautiful in the end. O’hare definitely needed a face lift, it’s long overdue

[etemselimi]

There is no aging Terminal 2 at O'Hare. I think you meant Terminal 5

[georgeblackwell]

Somehow with 80 million passengers doesn’t sound like it’s struggling…

[CrazyPotatos]

They should've prioritized the satellite terminals out by the central deice facility, completely out of the way of all current traffic, then once those are open focus on doing things at the current terminal. They could easily fit 2-3 satellite terminals between the central deice facility and United's current sateillite terminal. Serve those terminals with busses until a train is built between terminals. After that, dismantle the current terminals to make them all line up like ATL or LHR. Could have the west terminal (that was teased in their plans) as another option for suburban travelers to access the airport. Probably won't happen in the US, but then make ORD the central rail hub for chicago with several Metra lines running directly to the airport so suburban travelers have the option of taking the train, while maintaining Blue line service and extending it to stop at both the east and west terminals like LHR does. Or they could spend billions and years to open up 1 crappy train that goes between terminals and extend the current terminals slightly