Construction Begins This Fall

LaQuardia's 42-year-old air traffic control tower, a leaky, creaky, outdated facility, is finally to be replaced. The FAA released funds for construction of a new facility on Thursday.

The three-year project --  to begin in October or November -- was proposed fifteen years ago. New additions will include a CAT II ILS which should help reduce delays and cancellations during bad weather.

Controllers will continue to work out of the old tower while the new one goes up near the parking garages.

Senator Charles Schumer takes partial credit for ram rodding the project. He says approval came just before funding for the project was set to expire.

In a statement Schumer said, "LaGuardia is a critical transportation hub, and now it can make the necessary upgrades to guarantee that every step is being taken to provide the best possible airport safety and efficiency measures."

According to the airport's management, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, LaGuardia served 13 million passengers in the first six months of 2006.

LaGuardia, whose history dates back to when it was a private airport 1929, sports four terminals serving 25 airlines including American, Delta, Northwest, United and a slew of regional carriers and charter outfits.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.panynj.gov