Mon, Feb 01, 2010
New Facility To Be Complete By 2012
The 57-year-old air traffic control facility at the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) is finally
getting a replacement. On Friday elected officials and
representatives from the FAA and NATCA officially broke ground on
the new $18.8 million tower.
"We are sending a message that we are ready for the future, that
we can meet any challenge in the future," said Rep. Paul Kanjorski,
D-NJ.
The airport wanted to replace the existing 42-ft tower to
compliment a new terminal opened several years ago, but needed
funding. Using money from the American Reinvestment and
Recovery Act has allowed the construction of the new 92-ft modern
facility without forcing the county to borrow money for the
project.
"We're just not celebrating a new building, we're celebrating a
new age in aviation," said Philip Gallagher, president of the local
NATCA chapter. Gallagher emphasized the increased capacity for the
airport as well as improvements in safety and efficiency.
TRACON file photo
"This is really a new beginning," said airport Director Barry
Centini. The new tower will include a state-of-the-art TRACON in
the 12,683-square-foot base building. Instead of
worrying over the possible consolidation of their 18
controllers to another facility, the airport sees this new center
as potentially attracting additional radar operations from
neighboring airports.
The project is expected to employ more than 300 people over the
next year. "This is one of the larger projects going on at
the moment in the area," claimed Drew Simpson, northeast corridor
representative of the Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of
Carpenters. "This is a huge job for area labor."
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