A construction project on one of Newark Liberty International Airport’s three main runways wrapped up nearly two weeks early, so the Federal Aviation Administration should be able to ease flight limits soon, but the shortage of air traffic controllers could still cause problems.

The runway began to be used for departures Monday, but it won’t be available for arrivals until next week.

Crews worked to complete the $121 million construction project ahead of schedule. But Newark has been plagued by cancellations and delays because of a shortage of air traffic controllers after the FAA had technical problems that twice briefly knocked out the radar and communications at a facility in Philadelphia that directs planes at the airport. — Associated Press