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Medford airport's berm plan hits wall Building a blast-deflecting wall at the Medford airport - even 40 feet high - would not save the terminal from a car bomb, a state study shows. Airport Director Bern Case on Friday announced that a bomb wall, or berm, won't be built until a new terminal is constructed. The study - called a blast effects analysis by the state - showed that a berm would offer little or no protection to the terminal's roof if a car bomb exploded. Jackson County already had plans to rebuild and enlarge its terminal before Sept. 11, but that project could take more than five years to complete. Airport officials had hoped that a berm would provide an additional measure of safety until a new terminal, built to withstand explosions, was complete. The blast analysis was undertaken by the Oregon Department of Aviation. The report includes several safety measures specifically tailored for smaller airports in the state. The complete results have been sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for additional review. Attempts to contact Case on Friday were unsuccessful. However, in a written release, Case said the analysis also revealed that the 300-foot parking rule should not be lifted until a new terminal is constructed. Curbside drop-off and pick-up will still continue at the Medford airport, Case added, along with vehicle inspections. Vehicles that appear to be riding low or have an excessive amount of cargo on board are directed to the airport's long-term parking area. However, Case said that less than 1 percent of all the vehicles searched have been sent to long-term parking. To alleviate inconveniences, a 30-minute free parking area with 45 spaces has been set up nearby. Drivers are not charged a parking fee for stays of 20 minutes or less. "We understand that these new measures are inconvenient but until the new terminal is built we believe that the system that's currently in place is the most prudent method of ensuring public safety and meets FAA requirements," Case wrote in his release. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.