Ahead Of Spring Break, Major Security Checkpoint Changes Coming To MSP Airport
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Spring break travel season is just around the corner, and major security checkpoint changes at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will wrap up just in time.
In a few days, travelers will have only two security checkpoints to choose from but there will be more screening lanes.
So what can travelers expect?
The brand new North Security Checkpoint partially opened Tuesday morning. The smaller checkpoints you see right when you walk into the airport are closing this week. The TSA says the changes will make the entire checkpoint process faster and more convenient for passengers.
The big revamp underway at Terminal 1 aims to ease congestion by consolidating checkpoints.
"The spaces that we put the equipment in over the last number of years wasn't meant for that kind of processing of people. It really was just meant for people walking through," Melissa Scrovonski with Airport Public Affairs said.
Scrovonski says too many checkpoints led to bottle-necking, so they're permanently closing checkpoints two and four this week.
"Tonight we'll move two more lanes, the next night we'll move two more lanes and then finally on Friday morning we'll have full capacity here," Scrovonski said.
And the closed checkpoint space won't be wasted.
"Over the next 18 months we have a plan to put about fifty retail and restaurants," Cliff Van Leuven with TSA said.
The shops and establishments will be open for travelers once they get through security. The new North Security Checkpoint is located where the old Haute Dish restaurant used to be. And with spring break just around the corner, the TSA promises a better experience for flyers.
"More space to divest, more space to take stuff out of your luggage to go through security screening and then recompose after you get through security to get your stuff back together," Van Leuven said. "That makes it easier on everybody and that's what this checkpoint gives us because it's a big, big footprint."
Terminal 1 is also getting an extra lane at at the north end, while checkpoint six will remained unchanged other than a new name. Come Friday, it will be the South Security Checkpoint. There are six lanes at Checkpoint 6. That makes 16 total here in Terminal 1.