Tarmac project not up to par

OGDENSBURG — The project to expand the tarmac at Ogdensburg International Airport has been completed, but an inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration found several of the lanes did not meet federal standards.

While this will not require the lanes to be rebuilt, officials said, it may shorten the life span of the pavement and will mean the funding agencies will not pay the total amount for the roughly $1 million project. Officials estimate the payment reduction will be between $20,000 and $40,000.

"The FAA has very high standards, and the pavement standards that were there don't exactly meet those, but they are adequate for FAA's acceptance," said James F. Morrissey, an engineer withC&S Engineers Inc., Syracuse, which oversaw the project. "If those conditions are not met, there is a reduced payment to the contractor, but the pavement stays in place and it still functions adequately."

Mr. Morrissey said the engineers are still gathering information about what parts of the expansion did not meet the federal standards.

"It doesn't always happen, but it does happen. It is not something unique to this project," he said. "It does happen and we're working through that with the contractor."

In February, the authority hired J.E. Sheehan Construction Corp., Potsdam, to do the construction for $837,000, and C&S Engineers, which designed the project, to oversee the work for $158,458.

The FAA is responsible for 95 percent of the costs, while the state Department of Transportation and the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority each are responsible for 2.5 percent.

The expansion added about 42,500 square feet to the 62,500-square-foot apron, which is used for airplane taxiing and parking. An old transient hangar also was torn down to make room for the expansion.

OBPA Executive Director Wade A. Davis said he did not expect the lane problems to greatly affect operations at the airport.

"In non-technical terms it means the 20-year life of the pavement may have been reduced to 15 years of life," he said. "It doesn't mean the pavement isn't good; it just means it could have a shorter life span."