New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks at the Terminal One topping out ceremony.

NEWARK, NJ—New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy joined Port Authority of New York & New Jersey executives and elected officials on Wednesday at the topping out ceremony for a major phase of construction of the $2.7-billion Terminal One project.

The "Steel Topping Out" ceremony featured the placement of the final exterior steel beam atop the 1-million-square-foot frame of the brand-new terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole, Executive Director Rick Cotton, and Aviation Director Huntley A. Lawrence, as well as Aviation Program Director of Redevelopment Catherine Cronin, were on hand to mark the event. Others in attendance were New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, State Senator Teresa Ruiz, State Senator Joseph Cryan, local officials, union leaders and workers.

"A modern Newark Liberty International Airport is crucial to both the millions of passengers and tons of cargo that move through our state and to the economic vitality of our region," said Governor Phil Murphy. "Not only will Terminal One provide travelers with a fully functioning, 21st century air travel experience, additional investments in a modernized AirTrain and an all-new Terminal Two will make us more competitive on the world stage."

"This structure is the first physical representation of the thoroughly modern terminal we are in the midst of building," said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole. "Today is a celebration of achievement and pride, particularly for the trades workers who are creating what will be a world-class facility upon completion."

The first phase of the project has employed nearly 300 onsite union workers a day, 33% of them ironworkers. The framework construction of Terminal One included the use of 10 cranes and 16,200 tons of steel fabrication to build the concourse and headhouse.

Once completed, Terminal One will feature cutting-edge digital technology and superior dining and retail options and a terminal 20 percent larger than Terminal A, the outmoded terminal it is designed to replace. Viewed as a "common use" terminal, all gates in the new terminal will be utilized by multiple carriers, which will increase flexibility and efficiency and optimize operations. The new terminal will accommodate an estimated 13.6 million passengers annually on three levels. A covered pedestrian bridge will provide direct terminal access for passengers using AirTrain Newark.

The new Terminal One was designed and is being built by Tutor Perini/Parsons with work being completed in phases to minimize customer inconvenience. Terminal One is scheduled to partially open with 21 gates in 2021 and be fully operational with an additional 12 gates by 2022. In July, the Port Authority reached an agreement with EWR Terminal One LLC, a 100% subsidiary of internationally recognized airport operator Munich Airport International, to oversee operations, maintenance and concession functions once the new terminal is complete.

At its September Board meeting, the Port Authority Board of Commissioners included two key projects in its revised 2017-2026 Capital Plan for the complete redevelopment of Newark Liberty International: new funding for planning to replace the existing Terminal B with a new, 21st century, Terminal Two, and funding for an entirely new AirTrain Newark.

Last month, the Port Authority and its partner ConRac Solutions broke ground on a new parking facility that will complement the new terminal and service the entire airport. The new Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility will be constructed on a 19.31-acre site, with approximately 2,750 public parking spaces and 3,380 rental car spaces to support 10 rent-a-car brands.

Terminal One is expected to generate more than $4.6 billion in regional economic activity, create more than 23,000 job years and provide more than $1.9 billion in wages.

Newark Liberty currently provides jobs for approximately 21,000 people directly employed at the airport. It contributes more than $27 billion in economic activity to the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region and generates nearly 190,000 total jobs and more than $9 billion in annual wages.

Instant Insights /

Gov. Murphy, Port Authority 'Top Out' Terminal One Project

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