Construction continues at Sacramento International Airport as major projects advance
As upgrades to Sacramento International Airport reach a major milestone, travelers will soon experience the improvements firsthand.
From a wider range of restaurant options to more convenient parking, as well as enhanced connectivity and baggage handling, SMF is undergoing changes to accommodate passenger demand that has reached record levels. The airport served about 13.8 million passengers in fiscal year 2025, with nearly 1.3 million passengers recorded in June alone — the busiest month in the airport’s history.
In response to rising demand, the Sacramento County Department of Airports in 2023 announced SMF Forward, a $1.3 billion multi-year improvement plan. Several projects under the plan are now under construction, with some scheduled for completion this year.
During a visit this week, much of the noise around Terminal B came from construction rather than air traffic. Crews worked on two of the most visible SMF Forward projects: the pedestrian walkway linking Terminal B and Concourse B, and the new Terminal B parking garage.
Video shows the latest construction progress at the Terminal B parking garage and pedestrian walkway, captured Jan. 20, 2026
The parking garage, which broke ground in 2024, is now nearing its full structural height. Multiple concrete levels are in place, and the structure is hard to miss from surrounding roadways. Once complete, the garage will add roughly 5,500 close-in parking spaces, replacing a surface lot that previously held about 1,000 spaces. The project is being delivered by Sacramento-based Otto Construction under a $229 million design-build contract. The new parking garage is expected to open in fall 2026.
Nearby, construction on the elevated pedestrian walkway has moved into a later phase. The steel-framed corridor now spans airport roadways, connecting Terminal B to Concourse B. Most of the structure appears to be nearly fully enclosed, with scaffolding still in place as crews continue work on remaining exterior panels.
The quarter-mile walkway will provide passengers with a direct, enclosed route between the terminal and concourse, reducing reliance on the Automated People Mover during peak periods. Once complete, the structure will include four moving walkways, four escalators and three elevators. The project is being delivered by Balfour Beatty under a construction manager at-risk contract and is scheduled for completion in spring 2026.
Beyond construction outside the terminals, travelers will soon begin to see changes inside as well. Several new food and beverage options are scheduled to open this year as part of a broader overhaul of concessions across the airport.
In Terminal A, new dining options include Magpie and New Helvetia Brewing. Terminal B will see a similar mix, including Temple Coffee, Bawk by Urban Roots, Nixtaco, and Wendy’s. Many of the new concepts will replace long-running concessions as the airport reconfigures terminal space to handle higher passenger volumes.
More changes are still ahead as the SMF Forward program continues through the rest of the decade. Among the projects next in line is a ground transportation center planned to centralize taxis, ride-hailing services and shuttle pickup into a single, walkable hub serving both terminals, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and finish by mid-2027.
A new Terminal A exit road to improve traffic flow is slated for completion in 2027. Expansion of Concourse B to add additional gates and support future air service is also on the schedule, with work expected to begin in 2026 and continue into 2028.
Future plans also include a consolidated rental car facility south of the terminals, which would replace the airport’s current shuttle-based rental system. Once built, the multi-level facility would house all rental car companies in a single location within walking distance of both terminals, allowing passengers to pick up and return vehicles without boarding a bus.
While progress on the current projects has been steady since construction began, additional improvements remain ahead that are expected to further simplify how travelers move through SMF.
