XNA to expand security checkpoint
by October 31, 2018 3:00 pm 883 views
A 30-foot renovation to the security checkpoint at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) about 12 years ago was supposed to add enough extra capacity to last 20 years, but growth has led the airport to expand the checkpoint sooner than expected, Airport COO Kelly Johnson said.
Members of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority recently approved a $4.14 million bid from Springdale firm Milestone Construction Co. to expand the checkpoint by 90 feet. The project was one of several the board approved, including to add overhead signage along the loop in front of the terminal, a change order to the taxiway reconstruction project and design and pre-construction work for the terminal renovation.
Last year, Johnson said she started to see the need to expand the checkpoint when the line to reach the checkpoint backed up near the escalators. A timeline to complete the expansion depends on when a cooling tower east of the existing checkpoint can be relocated as it must be moved when the temperature is cold enough that cooling in the terminal isn’t necessary.
The board agreed to spend up to $1.35 million to install overhead signs that are lighted and have a similar look to the wayfinding signs that have been installed throughout Northwest Arkansas. Nabholz Corp. will complete the work, and more than $800,000 of the project will be paid for with the savings from the parking garage project.
A $2.9 million change order to a $14.05 million project to reconstruct the taxiway will allow for a new segment of taxiway to be built that will connect to the apron. XNA will use additional grant money it received from the Federal Aviation Administration for the change order. Emery Sapp & Sons of Springfield, Mo., is completing the project.
Also, the board approved spending up to $93,350 for Nabholz to complete pre-construction work leading up to determining the guaranteed maximum price for the terminal renovation project, and a $1.87 million contract with Hight Jackson Associates of Rogers for project design.