First Constructions Estimates Were For $500,000 Match

When city officials first proposed a new control tower at Mesquite Metro Airport in Mesquite, TX, they planned for a seven story structure which would cost about $2 million. That proposal was based on a similar tower under construction in McKinney, TX. The FAA gave the city a grant for $1.5 million, and the city agreed to add $500,000 to the effort. Construction was approved in July of 2010, and the design work began.

But as the tower was designed, it was discovered that it needed to be eight stories tall. The city also planned to install a backup IT/communications center in the tower for emergency operations, and other technical specifications from the FAA boosted the cost even more. A revised estimate pushed the cost of the tower to nearly $3 million.

The FAA's contribution is capped at $2 million, according to a report in the Star Local News. So the city council voted March 20th to allocate the additional money from a variety of accounts, bond issues, and other grants to make up the shortfall. When completed, the tower will be staffed by FAA controllers, but maintained by the city of Mesquite.

FMI: www.cityofmesquite.com