Looking up: Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport set to replace three boarding bridges

Collin Bestor, Northwest Florida Daily News
·2 min read
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SHALIMAR — To improve the passenger experience and safety, the Airport Department of Okaloosa County has received approval from the Board of County Commissioners to award a construction contract that will replace three boarding bridges at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS.)

Here's what we know.

Background

The current boarding bridges at the airport, located at gates B1, B2, and B3, have reached the end of their 20-year operational lifespan and are due for a comprehensive overhaul. An Invitation to Bid process for the new bridges began on May 3. On Tuesday, the county commission awarded the contract to JBT Aerotech LLC for $4,076,387.

The replacement project will include the removal and disposal of the existing bridges and the installation of new bridges with up-to-date technology. The upgrades will include:

  • pre-conditioned air units

  • 400 Hz ground power units

  • electrical feeders

  • potable water cabinets

  • visual docking guidance systems

"Jet bridges are one of those things you take for granted until they don't work," said Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel.

The improved boarding bridges will be able to handle larger aircraft and accommodate higher passenger loads in the future. The project is expected to take 523 days to reach the status of substantial completion, with another 30 days to finish any other needed work.

Funding sources

The project funding will come from various sources, such as the FAA Airport Improvement Program, the Florida Department of Transportation Grant G2895, and passenger facility charges.

The FAA AIP grant will cover 90 percent of the costs, with a 10 percent local match of $420,853.33. The FDOT grant has received a local match that will equal the grant funds at an amount of $211,354.65.

According to Airport Director Tracy Stage, the passenger facility charges, which total $632,207.98, will be used to reimburse all local matches, meaning that zero county dollars will be used to fund this project.

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Future plans

As VPS continues to expand its operations, any excess money from the FAA allocation will be used for a future project to add an extra passenger boarding bridge to gate A-3. The expansion will ensure that the airport meets the needs for further expansion as the airport destinations list grows.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Three new boarding bridges for Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport