A second major stage of construction to upgrade the aging Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., now is underway with owner Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's just announced plan to tear down and rebuild the facility's 51-year-old Terminal B.
The project is a key part of the airport's EWR Vision Plan which the agency unveiled on Oct. 17, developed with design firms Arup and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Neither PANYNJ nor the firms disclosed the cost or the exact target completion date of the airport upgrade, which includes upgrades to Terminal C and expansion of Terminal A that opened just last year after a major reconstruction, and was termed the best new airport terminal in the world by global airport evaluation firm Skytrax, noted PANYNJ in its announcement.
But the agency says the wide-ranging blueprint for continued development in the coming decades would accommodate passenger growth with facilities on par with its $8 billion LaGuardia Airport reconstruction that began in 2015 and completed in 2022, as well as with its current $19-billion John F. Kennedy International Airport public-private project to rebuild and upgrade terminals and infrastructure, and not to mention its $2.7 billion Newark Airport Terminal A project.
Terminals B and C and the original Terminal A of Newark Airport were built in the 1970s, along with much of the airport's current infrastructure. Some older airport structures date to 1928.
PANYNJ says it will begin a two- to three-year planning process next year to help formulate cost projections and project delivery alternatives before any construction starts. Construction procurement details also were not disclosed.
Aside from modern terminals and infrastructure, the agency says the plan includes improved roadway and taxiway networks to accommodate more aircraft and reduce delays. The agency also says the blueprint stems from extensive outreach to airport tenants, operational partners and the public to guide future growth.
Last year, a record 49 million passengers passed through the airport despite its insufficient terminal capacity, congested roadways and airside delays,
“A modern, efficient, world-class Newark Liberty Airport is more than just a dream," Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole said in a statement. "We now have an actionable path forward. As the blueprint shows, we’re ready to take a top-to-bottom look at everything from terminals to roadways to taxiways as we build [Newark Airport] into a best-in-class global gateway and position it to continue serving as a vital economic engine for New Jersey and the region.”
The phased plan aims to minimize the impact on airport operations while creating opportunities for local businesses, the authority says, while furthering its commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The plan also incorporates ongoing projects, such as the airport’s AirTrain project to replace the existing system with an automated one and a new access point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station that connects with Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains.
"Newark Liberty Airport serves as the gateway for millions of passengers," N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in a statement, adding that the redevelopment "will solidify [its] status as a premier regional and international transportation hub ... strengthen the airport's role as a key economic driver for New Jersey and the surrounding region."
