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Tuesday, February 29, 2000
Council to vote on airport work
Construction could start soon on new baggage claim, rental car lot
By Jonathan Osborne
Caller-Times
A facelift on Corpus Christi International Airport could begin in as soon as six weeks.
The City Council will decide today whether to start construction on temporary terminal facilities, including a new baggage claim and rental car lot.
If approved, passengers will walk through a corridor running from the edge of the ticket lobby to the doors of the restaurant area and on to their desired gate until the new terminal is complete in 2002, Airport Director Bonnie Allin said.
The new two-story terminal will be built up around the corridor and construction could begin by September.
"Hopefully, it will be a very easy transition," Allin said. "There's been a tremendous amount of advance planning going into this so that we can minimize the impact to our customers."
Passengers still will board out of the same gates they are accustomed to; however, Southwest Airlines' ticket counter will move next to that of Delta Airlines.
The temporary baggage claim will be built in the rental lot space, nudging the rental lot out further on to the property.
"These are the facilities we will live in until early 2002," Allin said. "In early 2002, we will move into about 90 percent of the new facility."
The redesigned terminal, when it opens, will have a larger, brighter ticket lobby and an open area for exhibits of artwork.
It also will feature Corpus Christi history, such as the Frederick "Doc" McGregor photographs already on display at the airport.
During construction, Allin said, passengers will pass through security in the temporary corridor.
The redesigned terminal also would allow for future expansion. The plans also would add a new baggage area, move the existing baggage area closer to the exits and double the amount of space for ticket counters.
Along with the new flights and terminal redesign, the airport will receive a new control tower, which means that Corpus Christi will control all flights in South Texas, including the Valley and parts of Mexico.
The Federal Aviation Administration in December approved a re-allocation of funds to begin construction of a new $12 million control tower in 2000.
On Monday, U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the contract to build the tower to SpawGlass Contractors of Selma,Texas.
The $26 million terminal should be completed in three years, but it is only a part of a long-term master plan, projected to cost costing $70 million to $80 million, that could take 40 to 50 years to complete.
The master plan would add 30 gates, more cargo planes, a new runway and 1,400 additional acres to the airport.
Councilman Henry Garrett said that redesigning the airport should only be the first step.
"We can build a beautiful terminal, but we must continue to work with the airlines to get the jet service in here," Garrett said.
"The announcement of American Eagle to bring jets here is a positive step in the right direction. If we're going to have any luck at economic development and bringing in corporate industry to broaden our tax-base, we're going to have to have proper transportation I want to see a bunch of jets sitting out there."
Staff writer Jonathan Osborne can be reached at 886-3716 or by e-mail at osbornej@caller.com
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