'A GAME CHANGER' FOR THE STATE

NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S NEW TERMINAL A REMINDS TRAVELERS THEY'RE IN NEW JERSEY

- BRITTANY CHRUSCIEL

The work of 29 local artists is represented in Terminal A, as well as a series of permanent, large-scale multimedia installations that interactively walk travelers through the state's landmarks, art and innovations.

Started from the bottom, now we’re here: The largest design-build project in New Jersey history is Newark Liberty International Airport’s New Terminal A, which cost $2.7 billion and opened to the public on Jan. 12, 2023. Once considered one of the worst airports around (a 2022 poll of the country’s largest airports by The Wall Street Journal ranked Newark dead last), New Jersey’s international airport is starting to repair its reputation with a reimagined Terminal A.

The Port Authority directed the massive project, which includes the 1 million-square-foot terminal hosting 33 airline gates among other improvements, such as redesigned roadways, eight new bridges and a 2,700-space public parking facility. But among the many enhancements is one that is personal to locals: Terminal A finally screams “You are in New Jersey.”

As New Jerseyans, we already share major league sports teams and the Statue of Liberty with neighbor New York — just to name a few things —so having our airport stand apart from nearby JFK and LaGuardia is a big deal for visitors’ first impressions. In a speech given by Gov. Phil Murphy at the inauguration of Terminal A, he said, “This building and the experience of this building will literally transform what people think and how they think of New Jersey. It’s a game changer.”