Runway work at Newark wraps up early, but flight limits and delays still loom
June 1, 2025, 3:35 p.m.
The $121 million project finished 13 days ahead of schedule.
A major runway at Newark Liberty International Airport reopens Monday, nearly two weeks earlier than expected.
The Port Authority and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the accelerated completion of rehabilitation work on Runway 4L-22R, which had been fully closed since April 15. The $121 million project included repaving, lighting upgrades and new drainage infrastructure as part of a broader effort to meet updated FAA safety standards.
“Thank you to the Port Authority for their partnership and hard work in getting Newark’s runway rebuilt ahead of schedule,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. “As we approach the busy summer travel season, this key milestone puts us on a path to further reducing congestion, enhancing safety, and ensuring a seamless travel experience.”
The work was supposed to wrap by June 15, but the Port Authority sped things up by adding shifts and doubling asphalt production, officials said. Closures will continue on weeknights and weekends through the end of the year to complete remaining work.
The early finish is especially timely.
The FAA recently ordered airlines to reduce flights at Newark through October, citing a combination of staffing shortages, runway constraints and aging radar systems. The airport has faced weeks of delays and cancellations while federal officials work to install fiber optic upgrades and build a new radar hub in Philadelphia.
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