Will Replace 30-Year-Old Structure At Baltimore-Washington International Airport

The FAA is in the preliminary planning stages for a new control tower at Baltimore-Washington International Airport (KBWI) which will replace the existing 30-year-old facility. The project is estimated to cost not less than $26 million.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the FAA looked at the option of renovating the existing tower, assessing the structure's age and location on the airport above Concourse C, before deciding to build a new structure. The process also included projections of future air traffic, staffing levels, and technology.

Initial plans call for a tower that is 228 feet tall, or about 100 feet taller than the existing tower. The agency is conducting "a complete technical analysis of potential tower sites," according to BWI Executive Director Paul Wiedefeld.

The FAA is working with the airport authority to coordinate the tower construction with the airport's master plan, which calls for opening an expanded terminal this summer, along with long-term plans to upgrade Concourse D and expand use of Concourse E by international carriers.

The FAA says it is "determining when funding may be available and working with the airport to identify a site for the new facility," according to an agency spokeswoman.

(Image source FAA.)

FMI: www.bwiairport.com, www.faa.gov