Bidders Line Up for Medford, Ore., Airport Expansion Project

Posted on Tue, Feb. 24, 2004 

Bidders Line Up for Medford, Ore., Airport Expansion
Project
Miami Herald, FL

Feb. 24 - A $45 million expansion at the Medford
airport could get off the ground this summer to build
a larger, safer terminal and a terrorist-resistant
tower.

Thirty construction firms have expressed interest in
the five-year project, and airport officials have
given them until March 3 to submit their bids. The
finalist will be chosen in May.

Jackson County will oversee $35 million of the
project, and the Federal Aviation Administration will
be in charge of the construction of a new tower,
costing approximately $10 million.

This will be the largest single construction project
for the county, funded by grants, passenger charges
and other airport revenues.

The airport has $29 million of the money already lined
up, and airport director Bern Case anticipates the
remainder will come from the federal government during
the course of the project.

"We have enough to get us started," he said.

Part of the funding -- $2.3 million -- will come from
the Transportation Security Administration.

Plans call for installation of utilities and a new
parking area this summer.

By next year, work should begin on the new terminal,
which will be located to the west of the old facility
in what is now the short-term parking area.

The existing terminal, which will be torn down in
2007, is too close to the runway area, according to
Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The
structure also doesn't meet earthquake standards and
wouldn't withstand the blast of a car bomb.

An administrative building also will be torn down, and
the offices will be relocated in the second story of
the new terminal.

During part of the expansion, Case said passengers
might have to walk through temporary "plywood tunnels"
to get to and from planes.

Case said the new tower will allow better visibility
of the runway and meet tougher federal standards
imposed since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"It's going to be blast-friendly," he said.

The new facilities will meet the airport's needs for
the next 20 years, supporting a million passengers
annually compared to about 500,000 now.

Ashland resident Tony Ashburn, who flies out of
Medford about four times a year, thought the expansion
would help the local economy, and potentially
stimulate interest in international flights.

"I hope more airlines come in, and then there'll be
more competition," he said. "It costs so much to fly
out of here."

But another Ashland resident, John Stadelman, couldn't
see any purpose in the expansion. "It's the Medford
airport," he said. "It's so silly."

Case said the size of the existing terminal is already
causing headaches for airlines and passengers.

The area where screened passengers wait for their
flight is too small, occasionally exceeding occupancy
capacities set by the city of Medford. This area would
be increased in size from 2,242 square feet to 7,000
square feet.

The security screening area, which is now 1,670 square
feet, would be increased to 12,100 square feet to meet
expanded requirements after the terrorist attacks of
9-11.

Two separate restaurants will be built, one serving
passengers in the screened waiting area and another
for those in the main lobby.

Only plastic utensils will be handed out to customers.
"We don't want to screen them for knives, then issue
them one," said Case.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., plans to push through
additional funding for the project in a federal
transportation bill.

"We're just in the beginning stages," said Dallas
Boyd, Walden's press secretary. "We'll make a formal
funding request in the next few weeks."

Airport officials expect construction on the $45
million project to take five years. The following time
line and costs are estimates:

--May 17: Contracting firm is selected.

--June 9: Contracts are signed.

--July 1: Construction begins on utilities, plumbing
and parking at a cost of $4.9 million.

--2005: Work on new $22 million terminal begins.
Includes $4.5 million in equipment such as five
loading bridges, baggage handling, elevators and
boilers.

--2006: New tower work begins about 300 yards to the
southwest of the existing structure at a cost of about
$10 million. This project is being funded separately
by the Federal Aviation Administration.

--2007: Old terminal is torn down.

--2008: New ramp and tarmac are installed for planes,
with a price tag of $3.2 million.

--June 30, 2009: Project is complete.

 

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