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SoWalSally

Beach Fanatic
Feb 19, 2005
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PC News Herald 9/23/08

The Airport Authority took two major steps Tuesday in moving forward on the construction of the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport taking shape near West Bay.

Members accepted the low terminal bid for the new airport, subject to an additional $4-6 million in cost savings from architectural changes.

They also announced a decision to deepen the concrete runway to 15 inches and install centerline lighting, moves that pave the way for extending the runway to 10,000 feet from its original 8,400 feet.

Terminal low bidder Walbridge will work with the original architect to come up with the necessary terminal changes, which will likely affect the roof design, said Jeff Dealy of KRB, the program manager for the $330 million airport relocation project.

Walbridge placed the $68.5 million low bid for the terminal project in August, a bid that was about $14 million higher than the Authority had budgeted.

Since then, Walbridge has worked with the airport staff to trim the terminal cost by about $5 million through a process known as "value engineering."

With a target of trimming an additional $4-6 million from the original bid by Oct. 7, the airport staff recommended Tuesday that Authority members accept the bid, even though it will still place the bid about $2-3 million over budget, airport Executive Director Randall Curtis said.

The trims in the construction cost will have no effect on the function or square footage of the terminal complex, with also includes the air traffic control tower, a public safety building, air cargo facility and rental car area, Dealy said.

The Oct. 7 deadline is the date when the Walbridge bid expires. Walbridge Senior Vice President David Hanson told members he was confident the cost-reductions could be provided by the deadline.

"We will team with the architect to pull $4-6 million from the design," he said.

If board members remain unsatisfied with the changes and the contract has to be rebid, the airport completion date could be delayed by three to five months at a cost of $5,000 per day, Delay said.

The Airport Authority also approved deepening the concrete runway to 15 inches rather than 14 inches. The thicker concrete will better handle the larger flights the longer runway is meant to target.

Members also approved providing centerline lighting, a provision that pilots of heavier flights expect on nighttime landing.

During the 2008 legislative session, the Florida Legislature appropriated an additional $4.5 million for the runway extension and the permitting process has already begun, Curtis said.

"The state knows how important this new facility is to the future of air service and economic development in Northwest Florida," Airport Authority Chairman Joe Tannehill said in a press release. "It is an investment in the future of the Panhandle and the future of Florida."
 

SoWalSally

Beach Fanatic
Feb 19, 2005
649
49
2924743004_8216af3a52.jpg
 

SoWalSally

Beach Fanatic
Feb 19, 2005
649
49
Construction of the airport continues to proceed several months ahead of schedule with nearly 45% of the heavy civil construction portion of the job complete with only 35% of the time used.

The project is still about 3 months ahead of schedule.

There are currently 203 workers and 138 pieces of equipment on site.

Asphalt paving on Taxiway D is started on Monday, October 6, 2008.
Asphalt paving on the north end of Runway 34-16 is expected to begin on Thursday, October 9, 2008.
The earthwork in the General Aviation area is 99% complete.
The utility package for the airport property will be finished and released the beginning of the week of October 13, 2008.

The mandatory pre-bid meeting for the utility package is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, at 1:00 p.m. at the current airport. Bid packages are due to the Airport Authority Office by Friday, October 31, at 1:00 p.m.
 
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