Tulsa International Airport "Airport ready to land

[sportyart]

quote:
Tulsa World- One project would use $1.7 million to replace six baggage carousels.
Tulsa International Airport officials are expected to accept $9.9 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants Thursday, including $1.7 million to replace six baggage carousels.

Responding to frequent breakdowns of the 26-year-old baggage carousels and baggage conveyor system, Tulsa Airport Improvement Trustees targeted them for replacement earlier this year.

However, the expense of ongoing passenger terminal renovations has required airport officials to delay construction of an estimated $4 million replacement of the inbound baggage conveyor system until 2007.

Installation of six new baggage carousels, at an estimated cost of $1.15 million, and six new baggage information display screens above them, at an estimated cost of $588,000, is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving, officials said. Construction should begin in August.

"You haven't been able to buy parts for the current system for some time," said Jeff Hough, deputy airports director for engineering and facilities. "It's old."

As part of the same $2.7 million FAA grant, trustees are expected to approve a contract to acquire two aircraft rescue and firefighting trucks
from Oshkosh Truck Corp. for $1.04 million.

Trustees also will accept a $4.13 million FAA grant for construction of 1,500 feet of Taxiway Echo on the east side of the 10,000-foot main north-south runway.

Taxiway Echo, which now is in two unconnected segments totaling 8,500 feet on the north and south ends of the main runway, will be joined by the new construction, officials said.

"Right now, anybody on the east side of the airport has to cross the main runway at least once to get to the other side of the airport," Hough said. "Every time you have someone crossing the runway you have a potential safety issue.

"Airports across the country have reported runway incursions a number of times in the last year. So anytime we can eliminate an opportunity or reduce the need to cross a runway, it's a good thing."

The FAA also has offered trustees a $3.01 million grant for the second phase of a drainage improvement project at Jones Riverside Airport at Jenks.

The grant will be used to complete construction of a half-mile drainage system, half of which was completed a year ago. The money also will be used to regrade a 20-acre detention pond on the southeast side of Jones and to improve drainage along one of the main roads on the east side of the airport.

Tulsa World, Airport ready for land grants

Whatever happened to the funding for the construction of the new control tower?