CLEVELAND — Folks, the spring break period is upon us, meaning hundreds of thousands of people will be flying out of (or perhaps into?) Northeast Ohio to enjoy the time off and good weather.
With this basic fact in mind, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is warning travelers to "expect long lines and limited parking" from now until the end of April. Simply put — if you're passing through the terminals, get there early, and maybe think about taking an Uber.
"Current projections indicate high volumes of travelers, especially during the morning hours of 6:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.," the airport said in a news release through the Cleveland Department of Port Control. "Travelers should anticipate extended wait times of 30 minutes or more to pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check points."
Not only that, but there are currently several construction projects both in and around Hopkins that will make things even more difficult. A massive renovation of the airport's Smart Parking Garage has temporarily eliminated 2,000 parking spaces, and the Ohio Department of Transportation is working to resurface Interstate 480 west and add additional exit lanes near Grayton Road. Both of these initiatives are expected to last through at least the summer and potentially beyond.
"For anyone who is planning on parking at the airport, we recommend checking our website before heading to the airport as available parking will be very difficult to find," officials noted, while also adding to be aware of traffic congestion.
All told, Hopkins administrators expect roughly 800,000 passengers to pass through the airport during spring break 2023, up from 750,000 a year ago.