The growth at Bridgeport’s North Central West Virginia Airport is continuing. And because of that growth, the airport will soon begin a security project exceeding half a million dollars.

 

On Tuesday, the airport’s governing body – the Benedum Airport Authority – approved two contracts that will allow that facility to meet new requirements on the security from mandated by TSA. Late last year, the airport learned that as the result of significant passenger growth that TSA has been upgraded to a Category III airport.

 

Once the airport became a Category III based on passenger load, the improvements on the security front became mandatory. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Authority approved the contracts that will make that happen.

 

Last week, bids were open for the security project. The key part of that project involves the installation of roughly 30 cameras throughout the airport.

 

“There was only one bidder,” said Rock.

 

However, according to airport engineer Chad Biller of the Thrasher Group, the one bid came in under budget. It also came in by what those involved called a “reputable” firm.

 

Fairmont’s F.K. Everest posted a bid of $549,622. There is an add-on alternate bid of just over $31,000.

 

“I think the quick time frame that was required in the bid and the fact the electronics in this project are different from a lot of projects is the reason we saw just one bid. We wanted to get at least three, but the one bid we received was well under our estimate of $600,000,” Biller said.

 

The project should begin soon. The time frame calls for the work to be done by September. The majority of the project – not counting the alternate add – will be paid for by the Airport Improvement Project (AIP) funding.

 

“There are things that we’ll have to pay for ourselves that aren’t approved by AIP,” said Rock. “Those would be additional cameras at places such as our fuel farm and other areas.”

 

Along with the big contract, the Authority also approved a $65,000 contract. The additional approval was granted for the engineering and design needed for the project. The Thrasher Group was awarded the A/E portion of the project.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Thrasher Group Engineer Chad Biller, right, with NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock at Tuesday's meeting. Bottom photo is of the terminal where the upgrades will take place. Bottom photo courtesy of the NCWV Airport Facebook page.