New Airport Access Opens After Day of Problems

May 22, 1996 - 9:55 a.m. EDT

Traveling to the Raleigh-Durham Airport just got easier, thanks to the opening of a recently completed three-year, $43 million project.

The new access system is designed to eliminate much of the stop-and-go traffic associated with entering RDU. Instead, drivers have a direct route from I-40 and Highway 70 into terminal areas.

The system has been under construction for three years.

It is estimated that more than 30,000 people travel into RDU every day, and officials say that number will probably double by the year 2000.

Earlier in the day, many at the airport experienced some tense moments when a power outage knocked out airport radar for about 60 seconds, delaying about 20 planes for a short time.

While the radar was out, the control tower kept in contact with pilots by way of back-up radios.