San Diego International Airport to open new traffic route

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Drivers will soon be able to travel on a new roadway to San Diego International Airport without intersections or traffic lights.

The new three-lane roadway, located on North Harbor Drive just west of the intersection with West Laurel Street, provides a direct route to SAN's Terminals 1 and 2, the airport said in a news release Tuesday.

“We are thrilled to open this new entrance roadway to the airport,” said Kimberly Becker, CEO and President of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “The on-airport roadway is a component of our new Terminal 1 redevelopment project, with the first phase opening this September. This is a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience and making travel to SAN more efficient.”

Here are some tips from SAN on how to access the new on-airport roadway:

• Vehicles on West Laurel Street headed toward the airport should bear to the right and will merge directly with the on-airport roadway.
• Vehicles bearing right to access the on-airport roadway will no longer have the option to merge onto North Harbor Drive.
• To access westbound North Harbor Drive, stay to the left on West Laurel Street and then turn right at the intersection with North Harbor Drive.
• Westbound drivers on North Harbor Drive (coming from downtown) should be aware that the entrance comes up significantly earlier than the current airport entrance. 

Directional signs to the new entrance will be placed along both North Harbor Drive and West Laurel Street.

The new roadway, which is expected to divert 45,000 vehicles per day from North Harbor Drive, is about one mile to Terminal 1 departure and arrival drop-off points and parking facilities from the entrance.

Those traveling westbound on North Harbor Drive who miss the new entrance can still access Terminal 1 via Harbor Island Drive and Terminal 2 via Spanish Landing.