As RDU airport continues to grow, crews set to demolish older section of Terminal 1

Over the past decade, Raleigh-Durham International Airport has built a new terminal and renovated an old one. But the vision for the port's future is forcing it to say goodbye to part of its past.

In the same week that the airport began its non-stop flights to Paris, France, it will also begin demolition of the old part of Terminal 1, which was built in the 1950s. Most recently, the old terminal was home to Southwest Airlines ticketing.

The old part closed in 2014 after the rest of the terminal got a facelift, and now it's coming down to make room growth.

"We have seen through the master planning process already that we're going to need more terminals, more parking, more infrastructure, more roadways to handle that growth," said Andrew Sawyer, a spokesman for the airport.

Once demolition is finished over the summer, the area will be open for landscaping. None of the work will affect traffic around the airport.

RDU will host public workshops in June for residents to give their thoughts on the airport's future.