By Tiffany Williams –
For the week of Jan. 16 through Jan. 22, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is warning travelers to plan ahead as construction, service changes and extensive overnight lane closures affect airports, bridges, tunnels and PATH service across the region.
The agency urged travelers using its facilities to allow extra travel time and to check for real-time traffic and service updates before departing, citing impacts tied to roadway work, transit maintenance and ongoing airport redevelopment projects.
Air travelers are being cautioned about continued construction tied to the $19 billion redevelopment of John F. Kennedy International Airport. Motorists and for-hire vehicle users should expect delays, detours or roadway closures within the airport, as crews continue work to overhaul terminals and supporting infrastructure. The Port Authority again urged passengers to use mass transit, including AirTrain JFK, MTA subway and bus service, or the Long Island Rail Road, which provides roughly 20-minute trips from Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal to Jamaica, where travelers can transfer to AirTrain JFK.
Drivers heading to JFK are encouraged to use the free drop-off, pickup and waiting lot at the AirTrain JFK Lefferts Boulevard station and take the free, eight-minute AirTrain ride to the terminals. A new roadway configuration remains in place, with the Van Wyck Expressway designated for direct access to terminals 1 and 4 and the JFK Expressway serving terminals 5, 7 and 8.
At Terminal 5, for-hire vehicle pickups remain relocated to the Howard Beach Ride App and Car Services Lot, accessible by AirTrain. Taxi service has been moved to the ground level of the Yellow Parking Garage, with pedestrian access via the fifth-floor skywalk. Parking on level 1 of the Yellow Garage is reserved for individuals with disabilities, while general parking is limited to levels 2 through 6. Electric vehicle charging remains available on level 2.
At Terminal 7, arrivals continue to be routed to the ground level of the Orange Garage, which remains closed for parking. Taxi service has been relocated to the departures level, and for-hire vehicle pickups remain at the Howard Beach Ride App and Car Services Lot. Terminal 7 passengers are encouraged to use public transit or reserve parking in Terminal 8’s Red Garage in advance.
At LaGuardia Airport, the Port Authority highlighted that the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus remains fare-free year-round to encourage public transit use. At Newark Liberty International Airport, off-airport hotel and rental car shuttles have been relocated from the P4 station to the P3 station due to construction on the new AirTrain Newark. Weekday AirTrain service between the Airport Train Station and terminals will be suspended from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., with shuttle buses operating during those hours.
Across the airport system, the Port Authority reminded travelers that the TSA no longer accepts state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant at security checkpoints. Passengers without compliant identification should expect additional screening.
PATH riders are also facing changes. MetroCard sales at PATH stations ended Dec. 31, though MetroCards remain valid for fare payment. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 19, PATH will operate on a modified Saturday schedule. Overnight closures from 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m. continue at the 9 Street and 23 Street stations for maintenance, with riders directed to nearby stations. Overnight access at the World Trade Center station is limited to street-level entrances at Fulton and Vesey streets.
Motorists should brace for a heavy slate of overnight and daytime lane closures on Port Authority bridges and tunnels throughout the week. The George Washington Bridge will see multiple eastbound and westbound lane closures on both upper and lower levels, along with ramp closures affecting access to the Henry Hudson Parkway and Riverside Drive. The Holland Tunnel will have nightly lane closures in both directions from Jan. 20 through Jan. 22, while the Lincoln Tunnel will see rotating overnight tube closures through Jan. 23.
Additional lane closures are scheduled at the Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing, primarily during daytime hours, affecting both directions at various points during the week.
The Port Authority again urged travelers to check conditions before heading out and to consider mass transit whenever possible, warning that congestion and delays are likely during peak travel periods as construction and maintenance continue across the region.