The Airport Authority has set a Dec. 19 deadline for what Chairman Joe Tannehill calls "the last piece of the puzzle" for the new international airport under construction at West Bay.
The hope is to add a 5,000-foot crosswind runway that will handle smaller aircraft and make traffic less congested on the 10,000-foot concrete runway under construction. Airport Authority members want to move forward so the smaller runway can be completed by the May 2010 airport opening date. The shorter asphalt runway will be used by smaller commercial aircraft and corporate jets and add a crucial safety factor to the new airport that pilots of larger international flights. Completion of the crosswind runway is not necessary for the new $318 million airport to open in May 2010. The smaller asphalt runway should cost about $18 million, far less than the larger $98 million concrete runway that will handle heavier aircraft and last up to 40 years. Current estimates are that the Airport Authority should have the money for the additional runway.
The airport currently is $17 million under budget, and there is about $17 million in untapped contingency funds. Another reason for the Dec. 19 deadline is that Phoenix Construction Services, which is building the larger runway, is about 55 percent completed on their part of the work. The company will be moving portions of its equipment from the site within 60 days. If the crosswind runway decision is delayed and Phoenix is forced to move equipment back to the site, the runway's expense could increase.
It is great to see the construction moving along. May 2010 will be here before we know it. The airport will be very convenient for the folks wanting to fly to Panama City Beach and stay in our Panama City Beach Condo. The airport is only 10 miles from Celadon Beach Resort…Jerry
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