Washington Dulles airport gains approval for $19.9 billion overhaul

The board that oversees Washington Dulles airport voted on Wednesday to approve a $19.9 billion overhaul plan that includes $3.75 billion to build new underground tunnels to replace slow vehicles that transport passengers across the tarmac.

The $6.2 billion reconstruction of the main terminal at the primary international airport serving the Washington D.C. region is set to begin in late 2027, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.

President Donald Trump announced the $22 billion plan last month, including a massive parking garage and transportation center that were not included in the $19.9 billion proposal approved on Wednesday.

The latest in a series of major Trump projects in and around the U.S. capital includes 5 million square feet of new or renovated airport space. It is one of the largest U.S. airport overhauls ever proposed and will be funded largely through $14.2 billion in new municipal bonds.

The airport authority had already approved $4.4 billion of the total.

Dulles was the fastest-growing large U.S. airport last year, with passenger numbers rising 6.4% to 29 million. This fall, it will gain a new 14-gate concourse serving customers.