Work on terminal to begin

PIERRE — As construction crews make a haul road over North Airport Road next week, they will be making a short path to what should be a lasting project.

July 28, a portion of North Airport Road will be blocked off from the public as 200,000 cubic yards of dirt is moved from an area west of the road to the east of the road for site work for a new airport terminal. The section likely will remain closed for a month.

“Any construction improvements on the airport are a benefit for the airport and a benefit for the community,” said Mike Isaacs, airport manager.

In April, the airport received $1.3 million in a federal grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for the new terminal, which will be located approximately 1,000 feet west of the current terminal.

This summer’s site work and installation of utilities marks the first phase of work for the terminal. In all, 95 percent of the terminal project will be paid through federal dollars while 3 percent will come from the city and the rest from the state. Earlier this year A. G.E. Corp won a $743,332.28 bid for the site work, all of which will be paid with stimulus funding. When the city commission discussed the site work, city officials were quick to point out that the work could happen before there are finalized plans for the terminal. Construction for the terminal is set for next summer.

“The FAA is looking for additional discretionary airport improvement dollars right now,” said Isaacs, of money for constructing the terminal. “I’m pretty confident we’re going to see the FAA’s portion available for us next year.”

The terminal has been criticized in recent years for water leaks — particularly in the basement where water runs over an electrical panel — a lack of a sprinkler system, security system and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms. A 2004 terminal study reported the building needed to expand by 32 percent.

Leon Schochenmaier, city administrator, said the anticipated month-long closure on North Airport Road will restrict travel on the road from motorists, some businesses and the Pierre Rural Fire Department as heavy machinery will move tons of dirt to raise the ground where the new terminal will sit. 

“The road will be barricaded so you have to come in from the north or the south and that small section in the middle that doesn’t have any business on it will be restricted to any traffic,” he said.

Jason Roggow, fire chief of the Pierre Rural Fire Department, said he does not anticipate the closure hindering emergency responses.

“It’s something we’ve dealt with before and handled before and will handle again accordingly,” he said. “One huge advantage is with radio communication. If we have a call, someone gets there first and makes a radio announcement, ‘Okay, this is the best method for all further responding units to take.’ That’s helpful to us.”

There is a third phase of the terminal project to complete any remaining work, such as the airport ramp and the parking lot, according to Schochenmaier.