May 2021
Taxiway Opens Under Skybridge at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B
New York, N.Y. – LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the private entity managing and redeveloping LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, announced the first aircraft taxi under the new eastern pedestrian skybridge. Passengers on Southwest Flight 617 to Tampa were treated to a full water salute to celebrate the milestone after they taxied under the bridge. Passengers inside Terminal B awaiting their flights were able to watch the first aircraft taxi right underneath them as they stood inside the pedestrian skybridge.
The eastern skybridge connects the Arrivals & Departures Hall, which opened in June 2020, directly to the eastern concourse gates – a truly innovative design that allowed the original airport facility to remain operational throughout construction. The pedestrian skybridge is 430 feet long and the highest part of the bridge is 97 feet above the taxiway.
When the redevelopment of Terminal B is fully complete, LaGuardia will be the only airport in the world with dual skybridges. The design of the dual skybridges will bring a much needed extra two miles of taxiway space to the busy airport. The second skybridge, scheduled to be complete by the end of 2021 with the taxiway underneath opening in 2022, will connect the western concourse to the Arrivals & Departures Hall. This western skybridge will also offer beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline.
Walsh Construction is part of the design-build joint venture that is redeveloping LaGuardia Airport.
“As the region begins to reopen, a whole new LaGuardia Airport continues to move forward creating a world-class airport experience for travelers. Today marks a unique and important milestone. The innovative design of the airport provides a 50% increase in aircraft taxiways that will dramatically decrease gate congestion and gate delays, greatly reducing a major source of frustration for passengers. Passengers utilize pedestrian skybridges over an active taxiway to get to their gates which allows for the more efficient movement of aircraft. And upon completion of Terminal B, the new LGA will be the world’s only airport with dual skybridges.” - Rick Cotton, executive director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Source: LaGuardia Gateway Partners