Critical road at Charlotte's airport shut down before Thanksgiving rush

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Douglas International Airport is getting ready for big crowds and packed parking as the Thanksgiving holiday rush gets underway, but there’s a wrinkle in the plans that could cause some backups.

Construction crews shut down a road on Monday that used to go to the Cellphone Lot. The road will be closed to everyone but construction traffic.

Airport officials relocated the Cellphone Lot to an area adjacent to Long-Term Parking Lot #1.

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As of Monday, all of the parking lots still have space available, but that’s expected to change as the week goes on.

Officials hope that brand-new bus lanes will help ease the backups in front of the terminal. They’re also hiring more security to keep traffic moving.

“All hands on deck for us. Heavily staffed at all terminal points inside,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Maj. Mike Smathers.

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Smathers, who heads up Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s airport unit, said all of his officers will be working and watching inside the terminal and out.

There haven’t been any specific threats, but Smathers said they’re not taking any chances.

“We want the traveling public to feel safe and to realize that we’re there, and we want to have a preventative aspect to anybody that might entertain anything negative at the airport,” Smathers said.

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