Flooding Strands Travelers At DFW Airport
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GRAPEVINE (CBSDFW.COM) - Hundreds of passengers got stuck at DFW International Airport early Friday, but it had nothing to do with flight delays. Flooding forced airport officials to close a vital terminal exit for more than three hours, creating a traffic backup in the parking area.
Barbara Scott said that her flight arrived into Terminal E at around midnight, but she found herself unable to get out of the airport's parking garage.
Heavy rain from Thursday night's severe weather created flooding at the Terminal E exit, and several vehicles got stuck in the high water. Between the dangerous conditions and the vehicles blocking the roadway, the airport shut down that exit until the water could recede.
Police at the airport reported more than two feet of water over the exit.
This closure left late-arriving travelers with no way to get out of the airport's parking area. The entrance to the terminal was also shut down, creating a similar traffic backup along International Parkway leading into the terminal.
Crews were brought in to help stranded motorists and work on removing the water. The passageways were opened back up at around 3:00 a.m. and drivers -- including Scott -- were able to get moving to their destinations. No further delays were reported to Friday morning's flights.
But more storms and possible flooding are expected in North Texas on Friday afternoon and over the weekend. "We're reviewing the issues associated with the flood incident," explained airport spokesman David Magana, "with the goal of mitigating and preventing a similar outcome."
Terminal E is under construction as part of a $2.7 billion project to renovate DFW International Airport's four original terminals. That includes rebuilding the roads that flooded early Friday.
However, communication was also a big problem. Many passengers left the concourse without the information that the road was closed. And, without boarding passes, they could not get back through security to find an alternative exit from the airport. "The biggest frustration is, if I could have gotten over to Terminal C, I could have got out pretty quick," said traveler Ricky Spillman.
