Airport rebuild Phase 3 opens with spectacular art & new concessions

The Salt Lake City Department of Airports has unveiled Phase 3 of The New SLC Redevelopment Program, which includes the Central Tunnel, Concourse B Plaza, 12 concessions and, initially, five Delta Air Lines’ gates. In addition, four new art installations are highlighted in Phase 3 that celebrate and recognize Utah’s beauty and natural history.

“With today’s opening of Phase 3 we have reached an extraordinary milestone in The New SLC Redevelopment Program,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Department of Airports. “We have built an airport that is convenient, inspiring, flexible, sustainable and provides our passengers with a first-class experience.”

Phase 3 of the project highlights the Central Tunnel connecting Concourse A and Concourse B in which a large-scale art installation by artist Gordon Huether, titled “The River Tunnel,” is featured. The art installation reflects the rivers that flow through the state’s mountains and canyons, the artist said. The tunnel art is supported by nearly 33 miles of steel pipe and contains 97,000 pounds of concrete.

As part of The River Tunnel art installation, more than 100 songs have been curated by Huether and feature tunes related to travel and/or Utah. Songs such as “Salt Lake City” by the Beach Boys, “Call of the Champions” by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and “In My Own Little Corner of the World” by Marie Osmond are all featured on the playlist passengers traveling through the corridor will hear.

Also located in Concourse B Plaza is the world map that was originally installed in the floor of Terminal 1 in 1960. The map was created by Dallas stoneworker Julius Bartoli based on drawings by Ashton, Evans & Brazier Initially, airport engineers did not think it was possible to remove the map without damaging the pieces; however, further examination determined it was possible. It was dismantled and placed in storage until it was relocated to Concourse B this past summer.

Passengers will also experience a dozen new concessions as part of Phase 3. The concessions include Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Sunday’s Best, The Coffee Bean, Tea Leaf, Thirst, Cotopaxi, iStore Express, Relay, Travel Right, The Canyon and Weller Book Works.