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A lot of work is under way at Portland International Airport, including construction of a new main terminal, a new office building for Port of Portland officials and a new parking garage and rental car complex.

One recent endeavor involved the 700-foot-long concourse connector, a post-security hallway that formerly allowed airport visitors to move between the north and south wings. The structure needed to be removed in order to accommodate future construction.

鈥淩ather than simply demolish the building, we decided to split it in half and reuse it,鈥� Kama Simonds, the Port of Portland’s media relations manager, stated in a news release.

One half of the concourse connector was moved to the south side of the airport during the week of March 15-19, and then the other half was moved to the north side the following week.

Each half of the concourse connector weighs around 9,000 tons. Both were moved by five self-propelled modular transporters synchronized to a single remote control. A single operator walked next to each connector as it crawled across the tarmac to its new home. Additional spotters were on hand to avoid any potential collisions.

鈥淓ach half of the building becomes a bypass to help people move safely around the construction area at the airport’s core,鈥� Simonds stated. 鈥淭he bypasses will be in place for several years to help travelers easily get to their gates while the construction continues behind insulated walls.鈥�

Also taking place at the airport these days is underground utility work for the new main terminal. Meanwhile, crews are preparing for the closure of the Clocktower Plaza that holds pre-security shops and restaurants. That closure will allow installation of enormous Y-shaped columns to support the new roof.

The main terminal will expand 150 feet beyond its western border. The roof, with a distinctive wooden ceiling made of locally sourced timber, will be installed beginning in 2022.

Elsewhere at PDX, crews are continuing to expand and upgrade Concourse B, which will serve Alaska Airlines. That work is on track to finish later this year.

In addition, the new ground transportation hub is scheduled to open in November.