Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

The opening of the new tower has hit a snag. Apparently weather delays have slowed construction. Also the claims of security changes as a result of 9/11 are delaying things.

"The opening of a new 340-foot control tower at Indianapolis International Airport, slated for earlier this year, has been delayed until 2006 because its construction has taken longer than expected, tower officials said today.

Ranking as one of the worldâ??s tallest airport control towers, the edifice is part of a $1 billion plan to construct a new passenger terminal between the airportâ??s main runways. The structure will replace the airportâ??s current 140-foot tall tower.

Weather delays and the installation of new security equipment following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, have slowed the pace of the $32 million project, said Air Traffic Manager Barry Jeffries."

Source: http://www.indystar.com/apps/p...?AID=/20050628/NEWS01/50628010

Let me be the first to say...I don't buy this story. The weather has been good actually. I suspect they are slowing things down again under pressure by the airlines. That exterior of the tower was finished nearly 4 months ago. I don't think it takes a year to finish the inside work. So I'm leaning towards a delay at the request of the airlines. Maybe this has something to do with the NW financial problems.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Don't know why the airlines would give two hoots about the control tower. And even if delaying its opening would save $$ for NW, I would think FedEx would want it accelerated. After all, the sooner the project moves forward, the sooner FedEx can plan and begin their massive expansion at IND.

The game at the airport always seems to be, "Who's the Bigger Dog?" Does NW call the shots now that TZ is basically gone? Or does FedEx get what it wants because it actually pays taxes and fees and employs a jillion people?

Member

Joined: 21 Jun 2005
Posts: 28
Location: Indianapolis

Wow Indy, I totally agree with you. The WEATHER? I mean, that's a reason to delay a flight not a control tower. Maybe they think people are just used to hearing weather delays in relation to aviation, so they'll buy it. And today, if you just say the words "security" and "9/11", everybody just kind of nods their head and understands. That is such crap. The tower was scheduled to come online this spring, with major construction on the terminal starting THIS SUMMER! Any contractor will tell you, the longer a project takes, the more money it costs. Delays cost money, period. And yet it is still within budget. The larger issue which was buried in the last sentence of the article and at the convenient excuse of the tower becoming operational, is that construction on the terminal itself has been delayed until spring of NEXT YEAR! This is a delay of the entire project, not just the tower. While I understand that FAA mandates the tower be operational before construction can begin, I seriously doubt that is the cause of the project delay. I agree with the notion that the airlines could be putting serious pressure on the board to delay the project. The airport is responding by not only delaying the project yet another year, but also by drastically reducing their already low landing fees. What gets me is, this press that the airport has been getting. IND has been extremely fortunate to have been getting excellent press from the glowing article about passenger numbers to the editorial about the ATA flight rebounds. Don't get me wrong, I think that part is well founded, but then there is that outrageous article about the US/America West merger and possibly/maybe/could be/why the hell not/ setting up a hub here, and now this washover about project delays. Somebody in PR has definitely been working overtime. It is extremely rare for a major airport to not come under any fire from city and state officials about the politics of who is appointed on the board, to NIMBY's fighting legal battles about property rights and environmental issues. Public outcry and legal wrangling can delay major airport projects for decades and cost millions. So I understand what's at stake, and that by shaping public opinion you can reduce risk. In Indianapolis, there has been none, and in fact, the airport currently enjoys both the governments and general publics support. So, my question is, if the airport has indeed delayed the project yet another year at the request of the airlines, and the public knew about it, what would the consequences be? Do you think public opinion would change, and that the airport would now be viewed as weakening, regardless of all the progress that it has made over the past year and a half? Of course you and I know there is a need for the project, but to the public at large, would the need for or justification of the project be put into question?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Simply put I think the Airport Authority caved to pressure from a few airlines. The lower fees and the delay seem to add up. So the question would be who was responsible? Was it Northwest or US Airways? I'm thinking Northwest is the one behind this. Frankly this is pathetic if you ask me. The cost of the project supposedly increased because of the year long delay granted at the request of the airlines previously. And I am talking about a big increase in price. Maybe the airport can explain some cost questions while they have this extra time. Like why the project is $1 billion dollars when the terminal is supposed to be $400 million and the road work was completed for under $300 million. Actually I think it was under $200 million. Where are the extra hundreds of millions going?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Good news... the terminal construction will start July 22nd. Fortunately the tower delay isn't delaying construction of the main building.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/p...AID=/20050710/NEWS01/507100481

"But Kish, who is preparing for a July 22 groundbreaking to launch construction on the terminal building, says he is satisfied with the progress."