The FAA Air Traffic Controllers were moved to the new taller tower on December 7, 2002 and the old tower was abandoned. The new tower was constructed to allow the controllers to see over the top of the new North Terminal project being built for American Airlines because a portion of runway 9L-27R (now 8R-26L) and taxiways Mike and November were blocked by the height of the new terminal. Miami-Dade County (Aviation Department) reimbursed the FAA for the new tower's construction costs.