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69 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, September 28, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 14, 2004 FAA puts speed bump in Medford airport improvements By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Federal Aviation Administration officials sent Medford airport’s new terminal back to the drawing board, delaying the project by up to three months. "It’s a little bit of a step backwards," said Bern Case, airport director. "Sixty days if things go smoothly. It could be 90 days if we have a hiccup." Layton Construction Inc. of Sandy, Utah, and the architectural firm CSHQA of Boise, Idaho, had been selected to build the new 100,000-square-foot, three-story terminal and other airport improvements, said Case, but a final contract had not yet been signed. Construction was set to begin this month and last for three years. But the FAA is insisting the $35 million project can save money if officials abandon the single team of design builders and send the project back to bid. The agency wants a competitive bidding approach throughout each stage of the project. "They are funding $28 million of the project through federal grants and ticket taxes," Case said. "They think there will be a lot more savings if we bid out each aspect of the project." Advertisement The county considered proposals from three development teams — including Adroit Construction of Ashland. But the team of Layton Construction and CSHQA came in under the $35 million budgeted for the project. CSHQA also said the job could be completed in three years, instead of the county-estimated five years. Case said the FAA’s decision will have the bidding process "start fresh." But, he said, it won’t rule out either of the two companies that appeared to have a lock on the job. Mike Daniels, vice president of Layton Construction, said he was "very disappointed" with the letter he received from the FAA. But he said his company would continue to do what it could to try to work within the FAA’s bidding requirements. Daniels said he did not believe the sub-contract bid approach would save the county or the FAA any money. "I’m not sure (the FAA) understood we had bid out all the elements," he said. "I’m not sure they’re going to save any money with this (bidding) approach. They may just get more headaches." The project breakdown and rebid process may end up helping local contractors, Case said. "It will give them a better shot because it’s not all tied up in one big bundle," Case said. Once built, the new terminal will be three times larger than the current structure. The new terminal and other improvements will be able to accommodate the million passengers who are projected to pass through the airport annually within 20 years, says Case. The airport served 500,000 passengers last year, its biggest load ever. Additional airport projects include four elevated jetways for access to planes, more airline counters and electronic check-in. Additional traffic lanes will provide easier access to the terminal, taxis and rental car areas. Covered outdoor areas will keep travelers dry. Redesigned security areas will feature a secure basement that will house advanced baggage screening and bomb detection equipment. A second-floor observation deck will look down on the passenger waiting area. The FAA project coordinator, Susan Lee-Pang, was not immediately available for comment. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities