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A new $4 billion LaGuardia Airport is coming
(Office of the Governor of New York)
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday a massive $4 billion overhaul of LaGuardia Airport, set to kick off next year.
"New York had an aggressive, can-do approach to big infrastructure in the past — and today we’re moving forward with that attitude once again," Cuomo said at a luncheon.
"We are transforming LaGuardia into a globally renowned, 21st-century airport that is worthy of the city and state of New York," he said.
Cuomo made the announcement alongside US Vice President Joe Biden, who in 2014 infamously likened LaGuardia to a "third-world" experience.
"I wish everything I said that’s truthful but controversial turned out this way," Biden said.
According to CNBC's Reem Nasr, Cuomo told the audience that many of the approvals that would have taken years to complete were expedited by the vice president's office.
"An outdated, overcrowded, and poorly designed facility is holding back LaGuardia's employees," Biden said.
The LaGuardia overhaul is expected to break ground next year with the first portion of the facility set to open in 2019. The remainder of the terminal will be completed 18 months later.
The new airport will feature one large terminal building, instead of the current collection of smaller facilities, and will be structured to provide more space for flight operations.
The project is expected to generate 8,000 construction jobs and another 3,700 jobs at a planned new airport hotel.
LaGuardia Airport is the smallest of New York's three major airports and located on Flushing Bay in Queens. It opened for operation in 1939.
(Office of the Governor of New York)
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