The new LaGuardia will replace separate terminals with a unified structure. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Vice President Joe Biden and other officials were in New York City Monday to officially unveil plans for the complete reconstruction of the city’s cramped, aging LaGuardia Airport, with construction due to start next year.
The multibillion-dollar project will involve the gradual demolition of the existing separate terminals and gate areas, and their replacement with a single modernistic structure. The new terminal will be linked to new gate areas by passenger bridges, and it will be 600 feet closer to the Grand Central Parkway than the existing Central Terminal, allowing more room for aircraft operations.
The governor’s office released several artists’ renderings of what the new LaGuardia will look like (see below).
Plans also call for the development of an AirTrain system to link the airport to Manhattan; a ferry terminal so passengers can travel to and from the city by boat; new terminal roadways; and a hotel/conference center. Security checkpoint areas will be three times their current size, and food and beverage concessions will be expanded.
Although the finished product will be on the same site as the existing LaGuardia, it will essentially be an entirely new airport, officials said — the first one to be built in the U.S. since 9/11.
Officials have said previously that the airport will remain open and operating during the construction, although it is likely to cause some inconveniences for travelers as it progresses. Officials hope to break ground on the project next year, and it could take 2-3 years to complete.
Taxpayers and the private sector are expected to split the cost of the $4 billion reconstruction. Cuomo said that Biden — who last year called LaGuardia a “third world” facility — has been instrumental in speeding up regulatory approvals for the new LaGuardia project. Here’s a link to a video of Cuomo’s remarks.
LaGuardia’s new terminal will be much closer to the Grand Central Parkway. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)
Soaring glass ceilings will link portions of the terminal and a new hotel. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)
A LaGuardia ferry terminal will permit quick boat rides for passengers into the city. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)
Bridges linking the terminal to gate areas will allow more room for aircraft movements on the tarmac. (Image: New York Governor’s Office)
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No way out says
July 28, 2015 at 11:43 amHow will Iran pull that off? Roll it up in a rug?
No way out says
July 28, 2015 at 11:41 amWhy don’t you guys do something about those crappy roads to and from your airports? I felt like I was on the Alaskan HWY last time I was there.
NorthernD says
July 28, 2015 at 10:47 amSteve – The plan clearly states two new parking garages will be built before the old ones are demolished.
Jeff says
July 28, 2015 at 5:40 amIn the November 17, 2014 posting a plan (hypothetical albeit) was presented about Rikers Island area being converted. While radical NYC is probably going to have to do something on this scale. The main issue with NYC proper (not including EWR) is runways and runway orientation. Even though JFK has 4 it functions like a 2 runway airport and don’t let any marginal to bad weather come in. LGA is a proverb on weather delays. For NYC to be truly viable in the next century slits and gates will have to double at least and probably triple.
Steve says
July 28, 2015 at 4:57 amLet’s see, we’ll knock down the nearly finished parking garage (a current huge inconvenience at LGA and that’s just one structure), and build the new terminal in the space now occupied by commuter parking? Yes, I’d say there will be a little [their word, not mine] inconvenience to travelers during construction, but major inconvenience afterwards — there is no mention of airport parking at the new facility! Oh yes, I forgot. I can leave my car at home, take the LIRR from Long Island to Penn Station, and make my way to either the proposed ferry or the mythical Airtrain. Let’s have full disclosure please.
By the way, I love the current LGA Marine Air Terminal. Parking the car less than 1/4 mile from the gate is so preferable to the 3/4 miles away I park and walk to the end of JFK terminal 4. Old is not always a bad thing.
Salvatore Johnson says
July 28, 2015 at 3:53 amI used LaGuardia a lot in the 90s and can tell you the airport really sucked. It was a lot like the old National Airport in Washington, cramped with very little services and a eyesore to look at.
Hopefully LaGuardia will be just like the redevelopment of National Airport which is a very nice airport to use.
Robert G says
July 27, 2015 at 9:27 pmAs a frequent flyer and resident of Panama City Beach, FL – I can also attest that Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) was the first that was designed and built completely after 9/11 – and the airport authority likes to remind people of that. Our old airport was constrained by waterways (bay) and development (almost LaGuardia-esque I guess) and thus they built a replacement away from any current developments that opened in 2010.
JH says
July 27, 2015 at 8:50 pmIndianapolis’ new terminal was designed and built post 9/11.
Chris DiPrima says
July 27, 2015 at 5:58 pmApropos of nothing, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (yes, that’s really its name) was the first new commercial service airport designed and built after 9/11.
Steve Larsen says
July 27, 2015 at 5:09 pm2 to 3 years to complete? I laugh in your general direction!!!!! Try 4 to 6 with significant cost overruns. The only question is whether they finish before Iran nukes it.
sunglassesadvil says
July 27, 2015 at 2:57 pmAndrew, not Mario, Cuomo.
Harold says
July 27, 2015 at 2:55 pmMario is dead. His son Andrew is governor.