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Construction closes roads to Charlotte’s airport overlook; temporary overlook opens

CHARLOTTE — Construction has shut down the roads that lead to the overlook at Charlotte’s airport, officials announced.

The North End Around Taxiway project closed the roads that access the overlook, causing it to be temporarily relocated. Because of that, the airport overlook closed that same day.

In the original plan, the North End Around Taxiway kept the overlook in its current location. But changes to the project required closing Airport Overlook Drive, eliminating access to the overlook. Officials said a temporary overlook would open in its place.

Airport Overlook Drive and the Long Term 1 exit closed permanently on October 3. Passengers leaving Long Term Lot 1 can use Beacon Drive and continue north to the intersection at Wilkinson Boulevard.

Portions of Old Dowd Road between Marshall Drive and the roundabout near Rental Car Road closed permanently on Oct. 8. Old Dowd Road from Marshall Drive to Wallace Neel Road also closed, and will not reopen for another two months.

To get access to the airport from West Boulevard, drivers will turn left onto Wallace Neel Road and continue to Wilkinson Boulevard.

The temporary overlook location is close to the current site, near the corner of Old Dowd Road and Airport Overlook Drive, according to airport officials. It opened on Oct. 17.

To visit the temporary overlook, drivers can use Wilkinson Boulevard to Marshall Drive.

The new airport overlook features views of the airfield, skyline and terminal, modern amenities, paved parking lots and a larger food truck staging area.

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