Oregon’s largest ever public works project is almost finished

Aug 15

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer)

The largest public works project in Oregon’s history is almost complete. The project brings a bit of the great outdoors to one of its busiest places.

Four years of work and more than $2 billion have been invested into the project. The brand-new terminal at Portland International Airport is officially open as the enhancements were shown off to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

The updated terminal features dozens of trees, thousands of plants, and even streams of natural light. Locals say it is a major milestone for the state.

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More than that, the renovation reportedly focuses on improving efficiency to the busy airport. Locals say the old terminal wasn’t designed for modern travel needs. The new design aims to streamline the journey through security and other checkpoints.

Stress is another point upon which the upgraded PDX seeks to improve in. The airport said it will continue to provide therapy llamas a few times a month to soothe stressed travelers.

Food and shopping areas have also been placed in pre-security areas, encouraging visitors to explore the terminal even if they aren’t there to fly.

The opening is only the first phase. More developments and enhancements have been promised for December 2025. Travel Portland President and CEO Jeff Miller said, “PDX is a shining star in our city’s tourism assets, and we often refer to it as one of the city’s best neighborhoods.”

With more updates on the way, it seems that PDX seeks to further enhance that reputation.

Tags: Oregon, Portland, Travel

Jack Aylmer

THE LARGEST PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT IN OREGON’S HISTORY IS ALMOST COMPLETE.

IT’S BRINGING A BIT OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO ONE OF ITS BUSIEST PLACES.

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF HARD WORK AND MORE THAN A $2 BILLION IN INVESTMENT, THE BRAND-NEW TERMINAL AT PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, OR PDX AS IT’S COMMONLY KNOWN IS OFFICIALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE UPDATED TERMINAL WILL FEATURE DOZENS OF TREES, THOUSANDS OF PLANTS AND STREAMS OF NATURAL LIGHT. LOCALS ARE SAYING THIS IS A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE STATE.

BUT IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE AESTHETICS. THE RENOVATION ALSO FOCUSES ON IMPROVING EFFICIENCY. ACCORDING TO LOCALS, THE OLD TERMINAL WASN’T DESIGNED FOR MODERN TRAVEL NEEDS. THIS NEW DESIGN AIMS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, MAKING THE JOURNEY THROUGH SECURITY AND OTHER CHECKPOINTS SMOOTHER.

AND SPEAKING OF REDUCING STRESS, PDX WILL CONTINUE WITH THERAPY LLAMAS AND ALPACAS. THESE ANIMALS WILL VISIT THE AIRPORT A COUPLE TIMES A MONTH TO HELP SOOTHE STRESSED-OUT TRAVELERS. FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY A BIT OF LOCAL FLAVOR, PDX IS SWITCHING THINGS UP. RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS WILL NOW BE PLACED IN PRE-SECURITY AREAS, ENCOURAGING TRAVELERS AND VISITORS TO EXPLORE THE TERMINAL EVEN IF THEY’RE NOT FLYING.

THIS OPENING IS JUST THE FIRST PHASE. THERE’LL BE MORE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WAY, WITH ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS SLATED FOR DECEMBER 2025. AS TRAVEL PORTLAND’S PRESIDENT AND CEO PUTS IT, PDX IS OFTEN SEEN AS ONE OF PORTLAND’S BEST NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE NEW TERMINAL RENOVATION IS SET TO ENHANCE THAT REPUTATION.

STAY TUNED AS WE DIVE INTO ALL THE DETAILS AND GET A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT MAKES THIS NEW TERMINAL A TRUE GEM FRO OREGON. WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY – AND YOU CAN TOO. DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP – AND SIGN UP FOR UPDATES SO YOU NEVER MISS A STORY.