The Daily Dig
Salt Lake City International Airport has officially closed out The New SLC Redevelopment Program. The $5.1 billion rebuild took 12 years and replaced three aging terminals with a central terminal and two linear concourses.
Gate Expectations
The final piece is an addition of about 132,000 square feet in Concourse B-east. It opened October 27, 2026, with seven gates and six concessions.
United Airlines takes five of the new gates, and the other two are common-use.
That brings the airport to 94 gates and 101 concessions. Getting there took several phased openings over six years.
Phase 1 opened to passengers in September 2020, followed by Phase 2 in October 2023 and Phase 3 in October 2024. Four more gates came online in July 2026.
Hours on the Clock
Nearly 25,000 craft workers worked on the program, logging more than 18 million craft hours along the way.
“They had the foresight and determination to build a completely new airport, and they did so despite numerous challenges faced,” said Bill Wyatt, the airport’s executive director.
Full Circle
At a celebration on October 24, 2026, many of the people from the July 2014 groundbreaking returned to recreate the original photo. About 500 guests and employees attended.
The evening also included the unveiling of artist Gordon Huether’s suspended installation of about 2,500 acrylic airplanes. The airport hired Huether early in the program to design several major, structurally integrated art pieces.
Snapshot:
Program: The New SLC Redevelopment Program
Airport: Salt Lake City International Airport
Executive Director: Bill Wyatt
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Sector: Aviation
Total Cost: $5.1 billion
Groundbreaking: July 2014
Scope: Replaced three aging terminals with a central terminal and two linear concourses
Phase 1: Opened September 2020
Phase 2: Opened October 2023
Phase 3: Opened October 2024
Additional Gates: 4, opened July 2026
Final Addition: About 132,000 sq. ft., Concourse B-east
Final Addition Scope: 7 gates, 6 concessions
Final Addition Opening: October 27, 2026
Gate Allocation: 5 United Airlines, 2 common-use
New Concessions: Einstein Bros. Bagels, Monarca, Moochies Meatballs, Mr. Charlies Chicken Fingers, Swig
New Retailer: & Go SLC
Total Gates: 94
Total Concessions: 101
Workforce: Nearly 25,000 craft workers
Craft Hours: More than 18 million
Artist: Gordon Huether, hired for several structurally integrated art pieces
Completion Celebration: October 24, 2026, about 500 guests and employees
TheJobWalk Thoughts
The New SLC came online in stages over six years, with each new phase opening while earlier ones were already serving passengers. Contractors who can deliver that way carry real weight on future aviation bids. Security, site access and sequencing around live operations can drive cost and schedule as much as the build itself.
The art offers a quieter lesson. The airport hired its artist early, and the structurally integrated pieces were part of the design from the early stages. Features that tie into the structure are far easier to coordinate on paper than in the field.
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