Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is advancing a $1.6 billion modernization program, with major construction running through 2032. The airport gathered nearly 800 contractors, consultants, suppliers and industry partners on Oct. 13 for CLEvolution Industry Day 2.0, laying out procurement packages and construction timelines for the Terminal Modernization Development Program.

The event covered work on the terminal entrance, concourses, roadways and supporting infrastructure. It also previewed anticipated procurement packages, giving bidders a first structured look at contract opportunities.

"Industry Day 2.0 reflects the incredible interest and enthusiasm surrounding the future of CLE," said Bryant Francis, Cleveland's director of port control.

What is already under construction?

The program's first physical project broke ground in July: a new Gold Lot with roughly 1,600 parking spaces, due to open in spring 2027. Once it opens, the airport will close its existing Orange Lot and build over it.

That site is slated for a multilevel parking garage with approximately 6,000 spaces, a ground transportation center and an upgraded Regional Transit Authority station. Construction on that package is targeted to begin in spring 2027, immediately after the Gold Lot delivers.

The sequencing matters. Parking capacity is rebuilt first so the airport never loses spaces during garage construction — a common constraint in landside projects, where temporary capacity loss drives revenue decline and passenger disruption.

What does the $1.6 billion actually buy?

The initial investment concentrates on landside improvements (everything on the public, non-airside side of the terminal: roads, parking, check-in and arrivals). The scope includes:

• A redesigned terminal entrance
• Expanded curbside drop-off areas
• A larger check-in lobby
• A consolidated security checkpoint
• New international arrivals facilities

Long-term plans go further. They envision replacing existing concourses and developing an on-site consolidated rental car facility (a single structure housing all rental operators, replacing shuttle-based off-airport lots).

Those airside and concourse projects remain subject to further planning and airline funding approvals. They are not committed spending, and no construction dates attach to them yet.

What does this change for Cleveland and its carriers?

For airlines serving Ohio's busiest airport, the program addresses aging infrastructure and passenger circulation constraints — bottlenecks at check-in, security and curbside drop-off that cap throughput during peak banks. New international arrivals facilities also matter for route development: airports without dedicated arrivals processing limit their viable international destinations.

For the local economy, the Office of Equal Opportunity used Industry Day to outline participation routes for local, small, minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged businesses. Officials also briefed prospective bidders on upcoming contracting requirements and available resources, signaling procurement will favor firms positioned early.

The program is CLE's most extensive modernization effort in decades. Its committed, funded portion — parking, roads, the terminal shell and processing facilities — runs to 2032; the concourse rebuild that would define the airport's next decade still depends on airlines signing on.