"Helena, Mont., Airport to Begin Terminal Expansion"

Sunday, September 7, 2003

Helena, Mont., Airport to Begin Terminal Expansion
The Helena (MT) Independent Record


The recently completed loop road and security wall at the Helena Regional
Airport were a mere precursor to the construction project on the horizon.

In early October, Dick Anderson Construction of Helena will begin work on a
$9 million renovation and expansion of the entire terminal building.

Bill Griffin of Crossman-Whitney-Griffin Architects designed the current
terminal in 1978. The pending expansion was designed by project architect
Ray Johnson with the same firm.

"We wanted to build a facility that can handle the increased security needs
and those kinds of things, but also to update the existing terminal in such
a way that it's attractive and pleasing for people entering and leaving the
city," said Tom Swindle, chair of the Helena Regional Airport Authority.

For Dick Anderson, president of the construction company that will complete
the project, making the airport building something the community can be
proud of is important on a couple of levels. In addition to professional
pride, there's the matter of helping the local economy grow -- and
generating future contracts for his firm -- by making sure visitors' first
impression of the city is a positive one. 

"Growth in the economy of Helena has a big impact on our business," he said.
"It's vital to us that people have a good impression of Helena, especially
if they're thinking of relocating here and are considering our
transportation system. We definitely want to be part of a project that will
emphasize the improvement of our transportation infrastructure."

The expansion presents unique construction challenges, starting with the
fact that the building will remain in use as an airport terminal throughout
the project.

"We hope the traveling public will understand that during this 18- to
24-month period there's going to be some inconvenience, but we're going to
try to minimize that," Swindle said.

To that end, work will be completed piece-meal, starting with an addition on
the east side of the building that will house an expanded baggage claim area
and rental car counters on the first floor and airport offices on the
second.

Once that area is enclosed, work will move to the airport boarding area,
where passenger screening areas will be expanded and a separate gate added
for boarding the smaller, regional jets that make up more and more of the
traffic here. If financing allows, a new jetway will replace the current,
20-year-old one that will allow access to both regional and full-size jets.

The baggage scanning equipment that currently sits in the middle of the
lobby will be moved behind the airport check-in counters. "They will be out
of sight and hopefully a little bit out of mind, but will still be there to
serve their purpose," Swindle said. The most intrusive part of the project,
from the traveler's standpoint, will be the removal of the roof over the
main terminal. It will be replaced by a 40-foot-high vaulted, sky-lit
ceiling that will considerably brighten the lobby.

In addition to working among and around several thousand passengers a month,
crews will contend with the issue of security. All workers will need FBI
background checks before being cleared to work on the project, and special
access rules will be in place during the workday. Most of the $11 million in
total project costs is coming from the federal government.

Local travelers can expect to share the airport with construction crews for
close to two years -- tentative completion of the project is aimed for
spring of 2005.

"A lot will depend upon the weather," said airport manager Ron Mercer. "If
we have a good winter, that could make a big difference. If we have a tough
winter, it will take longer."

Swindle said airport expansion has been a topic with the authority for close
to a decade. A few times work was set to begin on renovations much smaller
in scope, but each time work was postponed until funding was in place to
complete the entire building at once. 

After a slow spring attributed to the war in Iraq in which the passenger
count at the airport was down, it was a good summer for airport travel. The
passenger count in July was 14,981, up 8 percent over last year and 14,799
in August, up 3 percent from 2002.


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