John F. Kennedy International Airport will join two other major New York City-area airports in major upgrades getting underway. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Jan. 4 proposed a $10-billion makeover for JFK and nearby infrastructure as part of a $100-billion state infrastructure plan he announced last year. The upgrade announcement follows an $8-billion renovation at LaGuardia Airport and a $2.3-billion face-lift at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. In its current form, JFK would reach capacity in the mid-2020s.
The proposed JFK work would include interconnecting terminals, which currently are separated; redesigning on-airport roadways, for easier access to terminals; and expanding the airport’s parking lot and taxiways, among other upgrades. Amenities such as fine dining and duty-free shopping also are included in the plans. Further, lane additions are proposed for the Van Wyck Expressway, a major roadway leading to the airport, to lessen traffic.