It will be a depressing summer season for vacationers passing by New York’s busiest airport.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — which manages and oversees the John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) — gave an replace on Tuesday for what vacationers can anticipate within the coming weeks and months because the airport redevelopment development approaches peak exercise.
JFK is at present present process a $19 billion transformation — the most important of any U.S. airport to this point. As a part of that, flyers will quickly take pleasure in a brand-new Terminal 1 and Terminal 6, along with not too long ago opened enhancements in Terminals 4 and eight.
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Whereas the spotlight of the JFK redevelopment will undoubtedly be the brand new and upgraded terminals, the Port Authority can be investing $3.9 billion in revamped airport roadways.
It is that final level that may trigger the largest headache for vacationers, Rick Cotton, the company’s government director, stated on Tuesday. In some circumstances, the Port Authority is projecting site visitors on airport roadways in extra of half-hour, and it is strongly advising vacationers to hunt various transportation strategies for attending to and from JFK.
All of this comes as JFK is predicted to welcome greater than 18 million passengers this summer season, a record-breaking quantity that would end in gridlock throughout the airport.
That stated, the Port Authority guarantees that this short-term ache will result in long-term acquire for these passing by JFK.
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Here is all the pieces it’s worthwhile to find out about touring by JFK this summer season — and the most recent on the brand new terminal developments.
Driving to JFK shall be a ache
With the beginning of the summer season journey season simply days away, you may wish to pack numerous additional persistence when touring to or from JFK.
There shall be a litany of street closures and site visitors sample adjustments going into impact over the approaching weeks and months — so many who the Port Authority did not listing all of them in its Tuesday presentation.
Vacationers ought to anticipate delays in any respect terminal roadways and frontages, periodic lane closures on each highways (the Belt Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway) accessing the airport, diminished roadway capability all through the airport, and site visitors sample adjustments and detours.
The one everlasting change publicized on Tuesday is that accessing the prevailing Terminal 1 from Lengthy Island would require a detour from the JFK Expressway.
This new route shall be in place for the subsequent two years (till the brand new Terminal One is full), and vacationers ought to add at the very least quarter-hour of journey time to entry this terminal.
Different terminals will stay accessible immediately from the JFK Expressway.
As for the opposite site visitors adjustments, the Port Authority is promising real-time directions from Port Authority cops. Vacationers ought to anticipate prolonged holds at site visitors lights and attainable redirection to both arrivals or departures ranges relying on site visitors circulate.
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As a part of Tuesday’s announcement, the Port Authority confirmed off its airport operations middle, which opened in 2019 and oversees the whole airport in a single “struggle room.” The AOC has each an airside and landside part — the latter of which shall be utilized by the Port Authority to observe site visitors patterns.
As soon as full, the $3.9 billion roadway redevelopment venture will carry over 6 miles of latest roads, eight new bridges, main modifications to 5 present bridges and 34 new wayfinding buildings.
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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
In complete, the improved roadway construction will result in 30% fewer choice factors for drivers and a 30% discount in site visitors merges or weaves.
3,500 fewer parking spots
If you happen to’re planning to park at JFK, you may wish to take note of this. The airport has misplaced greater than 3,500 parking spots because of the ongoing development.
A number of tons have been affected, largely these near the terminal roadways.
The Port Authority has opened new distant tons to assist make room for extra vehicles, however there’s one factor you must do if you happen to’re planning to park at JFK: pre-book a spot nicely upfront.
What you must do about site visitors
Other than packing numerous persistence, the Port Authority has some ideas for vacationers navigating JFK this summer season.
The primary is to make use of mass transit. “We now have a secret weapon: the AirTrain,” Cotton stated.
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The company is recommending that every one vacationers take the AirTrain to the airport. (It stops in any respect terminals.)
The Lengthy Island Rail Highway and E, J and Z subway traces cease at Jamaica, which is only a 20-minute (and $8.50) AirTrain experience to and from JFK.
Alternatively, you may take the A subway line to Howard Seaside station, which is a six-minute (and $8.50) AirTrain experience from the airport.
For individuals who favor to take a automobile to the airport, the Port Authority is opening a brand new “free and simple” lot adjoining to the Lefferts Blvd AirTrain station. This lot will supply drivers free entry for drop-offs and pickups and shall be linked to JFK with a free 24/7 AirTrain experience.
This lot is predicted to open in early June.
New JFK terminals are coming alongside
All of this roadway work pales compared to what’s coming in 2026: the opening of two brand-new JFK terminals.
The most important venture is the $9.5 billion new Terminal One, which is able to turn into one in all JFK’s flagship worldwide terminals.
The brand new Terminal One at JFK will incorporate the present and former websites of terminals 1, 2 and three into a large, 2.4 million-square-foot worldwide terminal. It should anchor the south facet of the airport.
When full, the brand new terminal would be the largest at JFK — almost the identical measurement as two new terminals at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) mixed. The primary huge milestone, which incorporates the brand new arrivals and departures corridor and the primary set of 14 new gates, is predicted to open in 2026.
When totally full in 2030, the brand new Terminal One will function 23 gates, a redesigned check-in corridor and overhauled arrival areas. (The present Terminal 1 and the not too long ago shuttered Terminal 2 have 12 and 11 gates, respectively.)
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The opposite new terminal is Terminal 6. As soon as full, this $4.2 billion venture will span 1.2 million sq. ft and supply 10 new gates — 9 of which might deal with wide-body jets. The brand new terminal is being constructed adjoining to the prevailing Terminal 5, which is house to JetBlue Airways’ JFK hub.
As soon as full, the 2 terminals shall be linked airside, giving flyers a extra seamless connecting expertise.
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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
When it first opens in 2026, solely 5 of the terminal’s 10 gates shall be prepared; the remaining 5 are attributable to be accomplished by 2028.
Backside line
JFK is getting a significant $19 billion makeover, and with it comes some huge complications whereas the development work is underway.
Vacationers ought to anticipate numerous site visitors and lane closures this summer season, which may flip into gridlock on a number of the busiest days of the season.
One of the simplest ways to keep away from all of it shall be to take public transportation. Do no matter you may to take the AirTrain to or from the terminals.
The excellent news is that every one of those changes are momentary. They’re going to be a headache this summer season (and thru the upcoming yr), however at the very least they’re making method for what appears to be two lovely new terminals.
“The place we’re headed is value each the wait and the inconvenience you’ll expertise,” Cotton promised.
For extra in regards to the new JFK, make sure you take a look at:
