Weeks of long lines and frustrations at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) airport security are coming to a close, as airport officials reopened both security checkpoints to all travelers starting Tuesday morning.

The trouble started at Minnesota's largest airport in mid-August thanks to a construction project, leading the airport to funnel most travelers through just one of two security checkpoints. Travelers without TSA PreCheck were all routed through the airport's north checkpoint, while all travelers with TSA PreCheck (including those with PreCheck and CLEAR) went through the South checkpoint.

It triggered weeks of long lines, missed flights, and criticism – including from the state's two U.S. senators. After exploring ways to ease congestion for weeks, the airport made a fix official on Monday.

“The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has since altered construction phasing and is returning both checkpoints to their pre-Aug. 19 status two months earlier than planned,” the airport said in a news release Monday.

An airport spokesman explained that the completion of flooring installation allowed the airport to return to normal operations. The airport is putting off further construction until after some existing structures in the terminal entryway have been removed.

Starting Tuesday, all travelers will be able to go through both checkpoints. It should help relieve long delays, which were most severe during weekday mornings at Minneapolis-St. Paul.

In addition, a popular skyway security checkpoints for travelers who don't need to check bags is reopening, from 5:30 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

The change comes just in time for the week of Minnesota Educator Academy – known best as MEA – an annual teacher conference beginning Oct. 17, when many families leave Minnesota to travel.

 

This story has been updated to show that a skyway security checkpoint is only open Mondays through Fridays.