NEWARK - The makeover at Newark Liberty International Airport's 46-year-old terminal is well underway.

Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Port Authority dignitaries gathered at the site of the future Terminal One section of the airport, where they provided an update after the first year of construction.

“This is not just creating a terminal, it’s about moving forward, being transformative,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, just before the final steel beam was placed on the skeleton of the new terminal.

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said this is the beginning of a significant investment for an airport experiencing more than 40 million annual customers.

“We are completely committed, 100% committed to transforming our airports into 21st century world-class facilities,” Cotton said.

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About a year ago, many of the same dignitaries gathered here to announce the groundbreaking for this $2.7 billion overhaul to what was formerly known as Terminal A, and will be dubbed Terminal One.

Terminal B will be replaced by Terminal Two, which is in the middle of a $35 million design phase.

The project, which is the bi-state agency's single-largest investment in the state, according to Sweeney, is projected to be completed in 2022, and will host 33 gates (which can be expanded to 45), and will encompass as much as 1 million square feet.

Murphy said there is momentum to keep the investment in New Jersey coming.

"I cannot overstate how much of a game-changer” the new Newark airport will be for the state, the governor said. "We’ve had good advocacy from the commissioners who are at the table, and I have every belief that will continue to be the case.”

Murphy nominated Amy Rosen to the board in May 2018, but she has not been confirmed by the Senate.

Terminal A was designed to handle 9 million passengers, but had at least 11 million in 2017; Terminal One is designed to move 18 million at full capacity, and hopefully erase the terminal's notorious reputation.

A new multilevel parking garage will have space for 3,000 cars, and a new walkway will connect the terminal with the AirTrain, giving passengers access to Amtrak and NJ Transit.

The Port Authority announced in June plans to replace the more than 20-year-old, aging AirTrain that is routinely shut down for repairs. The new rail system will cost $2.05 billion, and got board approval in September as part of an update to the 2017-26 capital plan.

The agency's three airports – Newark, LaGuardia and JFK – are all under major renovations.

LaGuardia is in the middle of a $8 billion renovation and expansion, including the construction of its first AirTrain. JFK's redevelopment is costing $13 billion, and will include two new terminals opening in 2023 that will be fully completed in 2025.

Colleen Wilson covers the Port Authority and NJ Transit for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering the region’s transportation systems and how they affect your commute, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: cwilson2@lohud.com Twitter: @colleenallreds

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