JFK Construction Reroutes Snarl Airport Traffic

A historic construction program is reshaping New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), one of the busiest hubs in the United States. The Port Authority and its private partners are in the middle of a $ 19 billion redevelopment that will deliver two brand new terminals, modernize two existing terminals, and replace the entire internal roadway network by around 2030.

The scale is enormous. On the south side, the $ 9.50 billion New Terminal One is rising on the sites of the former Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and will eventually span 2.6 million square feet with 23 gates, making it the largest standalone international terminal in the country. On the north side, the $ 4.20 billion, 1.2 million square foot Terminal 6 will take over the footprint of the old Terminals 6 and 7 and connect directly with JetBlue's existing Terminal 5.

The first phases of both New Terminal One and Terminal 6 are targeted to open in 2026, with additional gates and facilities rolling out through the end of the decade. In parallel, recent expansions at Terminal 4 and Terminal 8 are already in service, and construction crews are rebuilding ramps, utilities, and bridges that feed the airport from the Belt Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway, and Nassau Expressway.

All of that work is happening while JFK runs a record number of flights. The result for anyone heading to or from the airport, especially since mid 2025, is simple. The terminals may be open, but the roads are under sustained pressure.

New roads, new rules, and why driving feels so different

By early summer 2025, construction and lane closures had become intense enough that the Port Authority moved from gentle warnings to blunt advice. Travelers were told not to drive directly to the terminals if they could avoid it and instead to use public transit and new off terminal facilities.

Several key roadway changes are now in effect.

For Terminal 5 and Terminal 7, a new permanent roadway pattern came online in October 2025. Vehicles using the Van Wyck Expressway must follow updated signs to revised exits much earlier in the run in, and the Port Authority has been explicit that drivers need to know their terminal before they enter the airport roads because the turnoffs now diverge sooner than before.

Access to Terminal 8 has been shifted to rely on the JFK Expressway rather than the more familiar Van Wyck approach. Drivers are instructed to follow new signage to reach American's hub at the southern edge of the field, which can catch repeat visitors off guard if they are following old muscle memory.

Terminal 4, the main Delta and international hub on the airport's south side, has effectively moved in the other direction. Recent traffic shifts mean that Terminal 4 is now reached only via the Van Wyck Expressway. Vehicles entering the airport from the JFK Expressway are routed to an internal connection (Exit A) that loops back to the Van Wyck, adding about 1.5 miles compared with the old layout and increasing travel time even before construction backups are taken into account.

Outside the fence, New York City's own traffic advisories show recurring lane closures on sections of the Belt Parkway, Nassau Expressway, and feeder ramps near JFK, specifically flagged as necessary to support the JFK Redevelopment Program and scheduled to continue at least through the end of 2025. In practice, that means less slack in the system and a greater risk that a minor fender bender or stalled car triggers a cascading delay.

The Lefferts Boulevard lot and Howard Beach shift

To keep cars away from the worst choke points, the Port Authority has opened a dedicated free pick up, drop off, and waiting lot at the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain JFK station, adjacent to long term Parking Lot 9. Drivers can meet passengers there rather than circling terminal curbs or parking garages, while travelers ride the AirTrain to and from their terminal.

The Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain ride to the terminals is free from that station and typically takes about eight minutes. For many trips, the total journey time is now shorter if a driver uses Lefferts Boulevard and waits off site than if they fight their way to the increasingly complex terminal frontage roads.

Ride share users face an additional twist. For Terminals 5 and 7, Uber and Lyft pickups have been moved to a satellite lot at the Howard Beach AirTrain station rather than curbside outside arrivals. Passengers arriving at those terminals must first ride the AirTrain or a free shuttle bus from the terminal to Howard Beach, then request their car in the designated pickup zone. Drop offs for departures are generally still permitted at the terminal curbs, but anyone relying on ride share for both legs should factor in the extra transfer time at Howard Beach.

At first glance, this looks like inconvenience for its own sake. In reality, it is an attempt to keep traffic from locking up around Terminals 4, 5, 7, and 8 while the inner roads and bridges are rebuilt. Port Authority data from previous holiday peaks suggests that shifting even a fraction of cars away from the terminal frontages can remove thousands of vehicles per day and shave minutes off the worst backups.

How to plan your trip to JFK during construction

For the rest of the decade, the safest assumption is that driving to JFK will be slower and less predictable than before construction ramped up. That does not mean every trip will be miserable, but it does mean travelers should adjust their habits now, especially around peak periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer weekends.

If you must drive or be dropped off at the terminal, aim to reach the airport at least two hours before a domestic departure and at least three hours before an international departure, then add extra buffer during holidays or Friday evening waves. Build in time not only for check in and security but also for last mile congestion on the Van Wyck, Nassau, or internal roads as you approach the airport.

If you are flexible, the most reliable path is to shift to a transit plus AirTrain combination. Long Island Rail Road provides fast connections from Grand Central Madison, Penn Station, and Atlantic Terminal to Jamaica, while the A subway runs to Howard Beach and the E, J, and Z lines connect to Jamaica. From Jamaica or Howard Beach, the AirTrain ride to the terminals is frequent and, although crowded at peaks, largely insulated from highway incidents.

AirTrain is free for travel between the terminals, Lefferts Boulevard, and Federal Circle but charges a standard $ 8.50 fare when you enter or exit at Jamaica or Howard Beach, with occasional seasonal discounts such as half price summer promotions used to pull drivers off the road. The fare is payable with OMNY or MetroCard at the gates.

Families, groups, and travelers with heavy luggage can still make the transit option work by splitting roles. One person can escort bags on a luggage cart from the train to the check in area while another queues at kiosks, or a driver can drop the group at Jamaica, park remotely, and rejoin later. Travelers with mobility needs should request wheelchair or special assistance through their airline in advance and be ready for slightly longer transfer times because curbside drop off, elevator access, and security lines can all be affected by construction.

What this means for the next few years

The payoff for this disruption is not just shiny terminals but a less chaotic airport layout. The redevelopment plan calls for a simplified, easier to navigate roadway network, a new ground transportation center, and better separation of pick up, drop off, and commercial traffic. Once New Terminal One and Terminal 6 are fully open and the new roads are complete, many of today's confusing loops and last second merges should disappear.

Until then, the smart play is to treat JFK as a work zone that happens to be an airport, not the other way around. Check construction advisories before you leave home, watch for updated signage to your terminal, and favor trains over traffic whenever you can. The flying experience at JFK will gradually improve as new space comes online, but getting to and from the airport will stay complicated for several more peak seasons.

Sources

• JFK Terminal 1, New Terminal One Construction & Updates
• JFK Terminal 6, New Terminal Construction & Updates
• PANYNJ Offers Holiday Travel Guidance to JFK Travelers Amid Peak Airport Construction
• Port Authority Opens Free Drop Off And Pickup Lot At JFK Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain Station
• NYC DOT Weekly Traffic Advisory
• AirTrain JFK, Official Fare And Access Information
• AirTrain JFK