A $105 million renovation project at BWI Marshall Airport that officially opened Tuesday features a larger upgraded security checkpoint, more shops and restaurants, a children’s play area, a gym, an art gallery and even an outdoor observation deck.

The yearlong project connects the D and E concourses, allowing domestic and international passengers and flights at both — part of a long-term master plan to connect all five of the airport’s concourses.

From The Baltimore Sun,

Gov. Larry Hogan, first lady Yumi Hogan, Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn and BWI Airport CEO Ricky Smith cut the ribbon Tuesday on the new security checkpoint at an event attended by more than 200 people.

The D/E Connector “improves and modernizes BWI Marshall for our customers and provides new opportunities for expanded international service,” Hogan said. “This work also sets the stage for even more future development here at BWI.”

The eight-lane security checkpoint can serve both domestic and international travelers, replacing the airport’s oldest and slowest security line — “a major upgrade in offering an improved travel experience for our passengers,” the governor said.

The added checkpoint lane is a short-term measure to help the screening process for BWI Marshall travelers at Concourse D. A new, larger, more efficient checkpoint is currently being constructed as part of the overall D/E Connector Program. The new checkpoint with eight screening lanes will serve domestic and international passengers. The D/E security checkpoint is scheduled to be complete in late 2016.

BWI Marshall continues to set records for passenger traffic. 2015 was a new all-time annual record with nearly 24 million passengers. Growth has continued in 2016. Ten-straight monthly passenger records have been set at BWI Marshall.

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