Airport authority awards Arnold Palmer taxiway project, eyes terminal, parking expansions

The Westmoreland County Airport Authority has selected Derry Construction Co. to modify three taxiways as part of the runway widening project at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

The work won’t proceed until the authority receives approval of needed funding from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The firm submitted the sole bid of slightly more than $5.1 million for the latter stages of the runway project at the Unity airport. In keeping with regulations, the work involves re-positioning the taxiways so they don’t connect directly from the runway to the primary ramp, where passengers board and disembark from planes.

Golden Triangle Construction has begun work on actual widening of the Arnold Palmer runway, from 100 feet to 150 feet, which should make it easier for pilots to land during inclement weather.

The airport authority on Tuesday approved two change orders, reducing Golden Triangle’s contract to $11.72 million. Federally mandated wiring and permitting added about $23,400 to the cost, but that was more than offset by a deduction of $250,000, resulting from changes in the construction schedule.

Golden Triangle has begun the project by working at night, when flights aren’t scheduled. With commercial flights reduced to just three per week, as interest in air travel recovers from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the contractor has been able to work between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Airport retiree Tom Stynchula has been called back to serve as a liaison between airport officials and the runway construction crew, with his wages covered by project funds.

“We asked him to come back to oversee the night operations,” Monzo said. “We’re very happy to have him back.”

Work is expected to begin in June on another Palmer airport improvement: strengthening the terminal apron by replacing the asphalt surface with concrete. Lutterman Excavating of Salem Township was awarded that contract at a cost of a little over $410,000 .

The authority agreed to seek bids for a proposed expansion of the Arnold Palmer terminal building. Planners want to relocate the car rental offices to an addition that would be constructed along the outside wall of the baggage return area. That would free up space for expanding the secure area where passengers wait to board flights.

That project also would include expansion of parking spaces to the southwest of the terminal and installation of a paid parking control system for spaces to the southeast of the building.