A near $1 million project at the North Central West Virginia Airport got a little bit closer to that mark Wednesday. And if you ever drive by the airport’s terminal, you’ll eventually notice it.

 

Members of the airport’s governing body – the Benedum Airport Authority – signed off yesterday on additional funds to make changes to the entrance canopy at the terminal building. Although renovations to the canopy were part of the $942,000 project being done by Lombardi out of Follansbee, some issues that were discovered during demolition led to the changes that were officially approved today.

 

“When we were going through the demolition of the original canopy, we found exposed block. When it was put in, the contractor (from the 1960s) didn’t use brick throughout and when it came down the exposed block was there,” said Rock. “We had to find a way to improve it.”

Rock said the choices were to add more brick to it in a kind of “patch up” mode or line aluminum over it. That would allow for the area to have what he described as a “wrapped” look.

 

“Basically, it’s got a significantly better look, it erased the problem and it’s much more aesthetically pleasing for anyone,” said Rock. “It’s really going to standout when finished.”

 

To revise the look, which was done by the Thrasher Group out of Bridgeport, cost $75,000. To bring that cost down, the baggage carousel that was going to be replaced was put on hold. Rock said that by subtracting that it brought the changes to roughly $35,000 and the entire project to around $977,000.

 

“The new baggage carousel would have been a short term fix, particularly as we’re looking for larger charters and larger flights,” said Rock. “If we get there, and we’re going all we can do to make that happen, then the proposed carousel would have needed to be replaced again.”

 

During Wednesday’s meeting, Authority member and former Bridgeport Mayor Jim Christie voiced his concerns over the design having three separate roof lines and the potential problems it could have. Airport Engineer Chad Biller of Thrasher said drains installed in each of the roof levels should alleviate any issues on that front.

 

Along with the work on the canopy, additional work is still taking place throughout the facility. The most notable involves the recent paving of the upper parking lot. Although not complete, the asphalt has been put in place and the striping has been done. It should be completed shortly, Rock said.

 

“That was desperately needed,” said Rock. “I think it really cleans up an area that needed addressed. Lombardi has just been great to work with.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Airport Engineer Chad Biller of the Thrasher Group, standing, talking with Authority members Jim Christie, left, and Randy Kerns about the terminal canopy renovations. Middle photo is an architectural rendering of what the finished product will look like, while the current status of the canopy is shown in the bottom photo.