The well known New York JFK International Airport is not the greatest airport in terms of departure times, but it’s not known as the worst either. However, all of this could soon change when one of the busiest runways at this airport has to close down for four months for reconstruction.

As of yesterday, JFK International Airport closed down for a $376 million makeover. Runway 13-31, also known as the Bay Runway, will be widened from 150 feet to 200 feet and will have taxiways added. All of this will be done in an effort to ease the traffic congestion at the airport overall. This may be affective when all the work is finished, but with this runway out of the works for four months, things are going to be really congested for awhile at JFK.

New York Governor, David Paterson, said that the improvements are expected to reduce flight delays overall by an estimated 10,500 hours per year. Airlines have been adjusting their schedules and operations to mitigate delays. The airport’s three remaining runways will be utilized to their full capabilities during the closure of Bay Runway.

Officials will be reducing the number of arrivals and departures that are seen at the airport from 1,300 a day to 1,050. John Kelly, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said that the aim is to have the construction invisible to the travelers.

One of the largest carriers at the airport, JetBlue, said that it will be reducing its schedule by 10 percent to try and help reduce the congestion that will likely come from the closing of the fourth runway. The FAA has already predicted that the delays will be very similar to those that are seen during the peak summer months.