Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport plans $5.5 million of improvements along a long walk some international passengers take to get to Customs -- but the changes will not keep passengers from having to make the journey.
The walk is up to six-tenths of a mile long for Atlanta-bound international passengers who land on Concourse E and must walk to the Customs area on Concourse F, part of the international terminal that opened in 2012.
The Atlanta airport plans to replace about 75,000 square feet of carpet with granite tile along the path, because the golf carts it uses to transport passengers who need assistance are wearing the carpet down and causing tripping hazards.
The work also includes replacing stainless steel and adding four restroom sign marquees to make them more visible to passengers traversing the route who need a rest stop.
The electric carts were added in 2014 due to "the concerns raised by Atlanta international terminating passengers regarding the lengthy walking distance to Concourse F," according to Hartsfield-Jackson.
“There’s not much we can do about the journey itself,” said Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Roosevelt Council. “We’re trying to make some cosmetic changes.”
The city council transportation committee voted to approve the measure Wednesday, and it now goes to the full council for approval.
The Atlanta Airlines Terminal Corp., an airline consortium, would handle the project, with the city reimbursing AATC for its costs up to $5.5 million.
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