Cleveland Hopkins Airport expansion has entered construction as the airport begins its long-term transformation under the CLEvolution program. The $1.6 billion landside investment will modernize parking, roadways, transportation facilities and passenger-processing infrastructure. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport broke ground on its new Gold Lot on July 1, 2026. The project marks the first major construction milestone under the modernization program.
The airport serves more than 10 million passengers annually across more than 40 nonstop destinations. Therefore, officials want to improve capacity while keeping existing terminal operations running.
The current program follows Cleveland’s 2021 airport master plan. That plan established a long-term framework covering terminal, airfield and landside development.
However, the airport has now prioritized landside improvements. This strategy will address parking, access and passenger circulation before larger terminal works begin.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport expansion launches with Gold Lot construction
The Cleveland Hopkins Airport expansion began visibly with the Gold Lot project near Concourse D. The $22.5 million development will add approximately 1,600 parking spaces.
Shook Construction will build the Gold Lot, while Jacobs provides program and construction management services. Construction started in July following the groundbreaking ceremony.
The additional parking capacity will support airport growth and prepare the site for subsequent construction phases. Officials expect the Gold Lot to open in late 2026 or early 2027.
The airport will then construct a larger parking garage at the existing Orange Lot. That $301 million facility will increase garage capacity from 4,000 to 6,000 spaces.
The garage will also incorporate a new Ground Transportation Center and RTA station. Officials expect the facility to open in 2029.
Once the new garage becomes operational, Cleveland will demolish the existing Smart Parking Garage. Its site will support the airport’s future modernized front entrance.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport expansion advances terminal modernization
Cleveland Hopkins Airport expansion will eventually deliver a substantially modernized passenger terminal environment. The airport estimates the subsequent front-of-house redevelopment at $1.1 billion.
The project will follow completion of the new parking garage. However, the airport still requires additional airline funding approvals for that stage.
The earlier master plan proposed extensive terminal and concourse redevelopment. It also examined airfield improvements, landside circulation and other airport facilities.
CLEvolution now provides the framework for implementing those long-term improvements in phases. This approach allows Cleveland to maintain passenger operations throughout construction.
The airport also completed its Central Security Checkpoint Expansion Project in May 2026. The upgrade doubled screening lanes from two to four and increased queueing space.
That project provides an immediate capacity improvement before larger terminal works begin. It also demonstrates how Cleveland plans to sequence modernization around active operations.
Meanwhile, airport officials finalized a new eight-year Airline Use and Lease Agreement in July 2026. The agreement strengthens the financial framework supporting future capital improvements.
The arrangement supports the airport’s residual funding model. Under that structure, airline revenue and other airport-generated income support operations and capital investment.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport expansion forms part of wider US aviation construction
The expansion reflects wider investment in major U.S. aviation infrastructure. Airports increasingly require new facilities to accommodate passenger growth and evolving security requirements.
Military aviation infrastructure faces similar construction demands. Ellsworth Air Force Base is advancing an estimated $2 billion program for B-21 Raider operations.
That project includes specialized maintenance facilities, training infrastructure and mission-support buildings. The Air Force expects the first B-21 aircraft at Ellsworth in 2027.
The two programs serve different aviation markets, but both demonstrate the scale of current U.S. infrastructure investment. Read the related Ellsworth B-21 infrastructure upgrade story for more details on the military construction program.
At Cleveland Hopkins, construction will proceed through successive phases rather than a single airport-wide redevelopment. The Gold Lot therefore provides the foundation for the next stage.
The future parking garage will then support ground transportation improvements. Subsequently, the airport plans to reshape its front entrance and broader passenger facilities.
CLEvolution will consequently transform Cleveland Hopkins while maintaining the airport’s role as Northeast Ohio’s primary aviation gateway.
Project fact sheet
Project: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Terminal Modernization Development Program
Program: CLEvolution
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Landside investment: Approximately $1.6 billion
Original master plan: Completed in 2021
First major construction project: Gold Lot
Gold Lot features:
Value: $22.5 million
Capacity: Approximately 1,600 parking spaces
Lot location: Adjacent to Concourse D
Lot completion: Late 2026 or early 2027
Parking garage value: $301 million
Future garage capacity: 6,000 spaces
Existing garage capacity: Approximately 4,000 spaces
Ground Transportation Center: Included within the future garage project
RTA station: New and relocated facility planned
Garage completion: Targeted for 2029
Future front-of-house redevelopment: Estimated $1.1 billion
Front-of-house target: 2032
Security upgrade: Central checkpoint expanded from two to four lanes
Passenger volume: More than 10 million annually
Construction approach: Phased development while airport operations continue
Project team
Airport owner and operator: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Government authority: City of Cleveland
Program management: Jacobs
Gold Lot contractor: Shook Construction
Program consultant: Paslay Group
Architecture and design: Corgan
Aviation consultancy: Connico
Architectural services: DVA Architecture, LLC
Design support: Robert P. Madison International, Inc.
Program support: McGuiness Unlimited, Inc.
Construction services: Regency Construction Services, Inc.
Airline funding partners: CLE signatory airlines
Transit partner: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Airport leadership: Bryant L. Francis, Director of Port Control
Municipal leadership: City of Cleveland
Program objective: Modernize Cleveland Hopkins while maintaining continuous airport operations
Also Read: Fort Wayne International Airport begins terminal expansion, Indiana
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