MIDLAND -- The following is a message from MBS:
The MBS International Airport Commission on Thursday approved a $20.39 million contract to complete the next two construction phases of its new terminal. The contract was awarded to Spence Brothers of Saginaw, the lowest responsible bidder among four companies competing for the project. The project, anticipated to begin this fall, is expected to employ approximately 500 people during construction.
The project will include the roof, exterior walls and interior partitions of the 75,000-square-foot terminal, as well as the electrical, plumbing, and heating, ventilation and air
conditioning work. Construction is expected to be completed in 14 months, according to
Jeff Nagel, airport manager.
“It is gratifying to know that this project is making a positive contribution to the local economy and job market, while also resulting in a state-of-the-art terminal that will contribute to the long-term economic growth of our region,” Nagel said. “I look forward to working with Spence Brothers during this important phase in construction.”
“We’re certainly delighted and very grateful to have this opportunity to work with the Airport Commission on a project that will have such a positive impact on the entire Great Lakes Bay Region and will act as a catalyst for long-term economic growth,” said Herbert Spence III, president and CEO of Spence Brothers.
The new steel-and-glass terminal was designed by aviation design and architectural firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc. to meet the needs of passengers, carriers and other tenants for the long term, with an overall structure that is easy to maintain, efficient to operate and easily adaptable to future needs. Work on the project began in April 2009 and has been completed in phases as funding has become available, Nagel said.
To date, no current or new local tax dollars have been used to fund the new terminal building. Construction has been funded through a combination of sources, including Federal Aviation Administration entitlement and discretionary funds, federal Passenger Facility Charges, local contributions and state apportionment funds. The contract awarded to Spence Brothers covers the fifth and sixth phases of construction. The seventh and final planned phase of construction, which includes the terminal building interiors and finishes, as well as parking lots, is slated to be completed in 2013.
“In an increasingly global economy, access to efficient and convenient air transportation is essential to economic growth,” said George Biltz, chairman of the MBS International Airport Commission. “As the Great Lakes Bay Region grows, the airport will now be able to grow with it. Once completed, the new terminal will be able to handle the demands of 21st Century air travel, while also maintaining the convenience that both business and leisure passengers appreciate about MBS International Airport.”
