A key runway at Newark Liberty International Airport has reopened nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, offering much-needed relief to travelers after weeks of delays, cancellations, and operational strain. The early completion marks a significant milestone for the airport, which has recently been plagued by staffing shortages, technical failures, and construction challenges.

The reopening of runway 4L-22R, Newark’s busiest departure route, is expected to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow at the tri-state area’s second-busiest airport. Renovations began in mid-April, leaving just two runways in operation and forcing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce the number of scheduled flights by 15% — down to 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour.

The effort to fast-track the project was praised during a Monday afternoon press conference, where U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy credited the collaborative push by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, unions, and construction crews.

“I think you were going to beat the timeframe by a couple days, but when they saw some of the issues that were happening here at Newark, they actually ramped it up even more,” Duffy said.

The recent operational issues at Newark reached a critical point when air traffic controllers temporarily lost radar and communications capabilities. The unexpected outage caused significant disruption, and some controllers even took time off to recover from the traumatic incident. According to the FAA, ongoing staffing shortages at the Philadelphia TRACON — the radar facility managing Newark’s airspace — have only exacerbated the situation.

To tackle the mounting challenges, the Port Authority brought in additional construction crews and instituted 24/7 work shifts. The agency even coordinated with contractors to bring a second asphalt plant online in order to accelerate material supply and keep the project on pace.

“It was no easy feat to get here,” said Sarah McKeon, Port Authority’s director of aviation. “It took around-the-clock work — literally seven days a week of people, multiple crews, paving, milling, electricians, and Port Authority aviation, operations, maintenance and engineering staff to make this happen.”

The project involved milling and paving the 11,000-foot-long, 150-foot-wide runway, as well as installing new lighting, airfield signage, and underground electrical infrastructure. Improvements to the drainage system were also part of the overhaul. The last time the runway was rehabilitated was in 2014.

“The building is meant to be a model of how we can eliminate emissions from operating the building,” said Kevin Emerson, director of building efficiency and decarbonization at Utah Clean Energy.

[Editor’s Note: The Emerson quote seems to be from a different article and was likely inserted in error.]

The FAA is now working to certify the renovated runway for incoming flights, a process that could take up to a week. Once approved, it would allow Newark to boost its operational capacity to 34 departures and 34 arrivals per hour, easing scheduling pressure for airlines and passengers.

FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirmed that certification is underway, emphasizing the agency’s role in ensuring runway safety and compliance with federal standards.

Though runway 4L-22R is now operational, the Port Authority said work will continue through the end of the year. Crews will temporarily close the runway on some weeknights and weekends to finish remaining tasks and finalize upgrades.

Officials hope the early reopening will serve as a turning point in Newark’s troubled 2024 travel season, offering smoother operations for the thousands of daily passengers who rely on the airport. The improvements are also expected to benefit airlines, which have faced pressure from travelers and regulators alike to improve service quality and reliability.

Originally reported by Joe Hernandez in Wyoming Public Media.