Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 23, 1994 TAG: 9407290013
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved $350,000 in planning money for a new tower, the final hurdle the appropriation had to clear in Congress. The House of Representatives approved the spending item June 17. Now it moves to President Clinton for approval.
The $4 million, 100-foot-high tower would be built by the year 2000. Approval of the planning money means design and engineering will begin late this year or early next year. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, spearheaded the drive for the funding.
"It's needed to improve safety and operational standards at our airport, and I'm pleased that the Senate understood and approved our request for funds," Goodlatte said in a statement.
The airport terminal was replaced five years ago, but the old terminal still houses the air traffic control system in a 38-foot-high tower.
After a new tower is built, the airport can tear down the old terminal and develop the 40 acres it sits on. It's likely that space would be used for additional hangars, maintenance or fueling facilities, runway space or parking slots for planes.
The old tower fails to meet current Federal Aviation Administration standards because it is too close to existing runways and partly obstructs controllers' view of an airplane taxiway.
The Senate killed an appropriation for planning money for a new tower last year.
- Staff report
by CNB