Raleigh-Durham International Airport plans to build 7,000 new parking spaces

Raleigh-Durham International Airport officials released an analysis of plans to build 7,000 new parking spaces.

The plan would add the new parking to the Park Economy 3 lot off National Guard Drive near the site of the under-construction Sheetz gas station.

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RDU's Vision 2040 plans to make add more gates to terminal and expand customs area.

The Park Economy 3 lot currently has more than 3,800 spaces and would nearly triple in size. According to the analysis, the expansion would require RDU to clear 120 acres of land near Umstead State Park. The airport released an analysis of the impact on the environment and is taking written public comment until August 4th.

Read the analysis for yourself:

The work would be done in four phases with the first phase of work set to begin in 2025.

Plans for this expansion were developed back in January during public workshops.

The parking lot expansion is part of RDU's 25-year master plan approved in 2016. The biggest anticipated projects include rebuilding the main runway, adding additional gates to Terminal 2, and updating the road system.

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Once RDU receives a green light, construction of a new runway could take about five years