Hartsfield-Jackson canopy construction moving to next phase

The final piece of steel has been placed for the construction of one of the massive curbside canopies at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

It took eight months to erect the steel structure for the canopy over the Terminal North curbside.

Construction crews placed an American flag on top of the structure Tuesday evening to mark the completion of the steelwork.

The next step is to install the canopy covering, a translucent plastic membrane that the airport says is “durable and recyclable.” It will be made of ETFE, or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, similar to the material used in the roof of the Mercedes-Benz stadium.

The North curbside canopy is expected to be complete by late fall. Then, the airport will complete the South curbside canopy.

The price tag for the canopies and other terminal improvements is $265 million, which is $102.5 million more than originally expected.