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Airport engineering update: terminal rehab moving, TSA checkpoint stalled by office-space changes; FAA EMAS funding pursuit continues
Summary
Airport staff reported completion of several phase-one terminal rehab items, said phase two checkpoint work awaits TSA office-space sign-off, described a conveyor-belt calibration issue and paused work after a contractor's death, and said the airport is pursuing a $26 million FAA-funded EMAS safety project.
Airport engineering staff told the Laredo International Airport Board that phase one of the terminal rehabilitation is nearly complete and that work on phase two — which includes a reconfigured checkpoint with a second lane — is awaiting final approval of TSA office space plans.
Engineering staff member Andrew said, “The generator should be in in November,” and reported the roof and escalator work are complete. He said the project team is meeting with the Transportation Security Administration and that TSA’s changing requests for office space have required multiple design revisions; the board was told staff will press TSA to finalize its space selection and that a new deadline of June 1 has been given for TSA sign-off.
Airport staff also described an operational problem with the checkpoint conveyor belt. An operations speaker said the hardware and computer systems were recently replaced and that the remaining issue appears to be calibration; a technician is scheduled to travel from San Antonio to diagnose the problem. Work at the site was paused for the week after the death of contractor Paul Leyendecker, the board was told.
On safety infrastructure, staff confirmed the airport is pursuing FAA funding for an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at the runway end. A staff member described EMAS as an engineered material/engineered-material-recovery system and said it is “a $26,000,000 project that we're currently working with FAA to fund.” Staff added that personnel changes at the FAA required the airport to restart portions of its grant and project submissions, but they remained optimistic the project would receive some funding.
Why it matters: The checkpoint redesign affects passenger flow and security throughput; unresolved TSA office-space and conveyor issues delay full activation of upgraded screening lanes. EMAS is a major safety and capital project with large federal funding implications.
Next steps: Staff said they will meet with TSA on the pending office-space revisions, follow up on the conveyor technician visit, and continue coordination with FAA on EMAS funding. No formal board vote on construction contracts or funding approvals was reported at the meeting.
