New Redmond, Ore., Airport Terminal is Coming Together on Schedule

By Andrew Moore, The Bulletin, Bend, Ore.

Jul. 9–Redmond Airport’s $40 million terminal expansion project is on schedule and beginning to take shape, said Airport Manager Carrie Novick.

Construction crews with the project’s general contractor, Bend-based Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co., have nearly finished excavation work and have begun pouring the foundation for the terminal’s new 13,000-square-foot basement. When completed, the basement will house the Transportation Security Administration’s luggage-screening equipment.

Framing also has begun on the ground level of the existing terminal’s southwest side in order to extend the terminal that direction.

The project — which will expand the terminal from 23,000 square feet to 136,000 square feet — began in April and is scheduled to be completed in fall 2009. The expanded terminal will include a two-story departure waiting area, a gift shop, a larger bar and restaurant, and a second baggage carousel. It also will feature an enclosed concourse extending to the aircraft ramp, minimizing passenger exposure to the weather.

The only hiccup in the project so far was the discovery of de-icing fluid in soil excavated for the project, according to Novick. It was determined to be nontoxic and the affected soil was spread across a remote area of the airport and did not adversely affect the project’s schedule or cost, Novick said.

“It’s an interesting project,” Novick said of the expansion. “It’s not like a new building. You have to keep all the parts (in the existing terminal) going while building around it. It’s a challenge.”

Airport operations are continuing as normal during construction.

Although Horizon Air has already trimmed one flight from the airport and intends to trim two more in August, Novick said the expansion is sorely needed despite the airport’s flattening passenger counts in the past two months, a souring economy and airlines facing serious financial challenges, “This is a really good market and the downturn is not going to last forever,” Novick said. “You build for the future.”

The terminal was expanded to its current size in 1993, when 18- and 19-seat aircraft served the airport, Novick said. The smallest commercial airplane using the airport now is Horizon’s Q200, which seats 34 passengers. Horizon has announced, however, that it will phase out the Q200 this fall for more fuel-efficient 76-seat aircraft.

In addition, Novick said anybody who uses the airport when two to three flights are arriving and departing at the same time knows the terminal has run out of room.

“You have passengers waiting to depart that are standing in the arrival area,” she said.

Alison Ward, who flies often from Redmond Airport in her job with local solar products firm PV Powered, said the expansion is a good thing and will likely make the terminal more functional.

“I didn’t ever think it was too crowded, but it was pretty obvious their resources for space and capacity were getting low,” Ward added.

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