Plans to construct a new, state-of-the art control tower at Reno-Tahoe International Airport are still on tap, even though the groundbreaking has been delayed.
In August 2002, the Airport Authority of Washoe County announced intentions to break ground on the $24 million, 200-plus foot tower in early 2004 and complete the project by 2006.
Dean Schultz, manager of airport planning and environmental services for the Airport Authority, said the project is more likely to begin by late 2005.
He said changes in the plans of the tower's design and structure prevented them from getting the project off the ground quickly.
Now, the expected completion date is sometime in 2007, although Schultz noted the process could be expedited and finished as early as 2006.
Construction should take about six to eight months depending on weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.
The Airport Authority could begin receiving contractor bids as early as midto late summer of this year, he said.
In the meantime, the old tower, which was built in 1957, is still sufficient, but the new tower will allow the airport to handle more commercial and cargo flights.
The $24 million needed to complete the project has already been secured through a combination of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and the state of Nevada.
Some of the money came from the FAA's Airport Improvement Program, which allocates money for various airport projects around the United States.
Schultz said the FAA made the new tower a top priority.
"This was specifically earmarked in the FAA budget to go directly to this project," Schultz said.
Schultz said the FAA requested a new tower be built at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport because the current tower does not meet some federal regulation standards.
For instance, a new tower would significantly increase runway visibility.
The current tower stands at 57 feet and has become limited in its capabilities.
The airport's north-south runway has been extended to where the control view is obstructed by other portions of the airport.
"Discerning the runway is difficult and the new tower will help with that," Schultz said.
The new tower would dwarf its predecessor with a height of about 250 feet, thus providing a much wider scope of visibility.
That height was modified from its original estimation of 200 to 220 feet to account for the base building that will go down 20 to 30 feet into the ground.
Another issue that concerned the FAA was that the current tower doesn't meet seismic regulations.
Although seismic concerns aren't a big factor in northern Nevada, the FAA still requires adherence.
The new tower will include a $14,000 base wrapped around it and be equipped with the latest aviation technology.
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