--- In BATN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "4/28 Oakland Tribune" <batn@xxxx> wrote: Published Wednesday, April 28, 2004, in the Oakland Tribune Airport design changes get clearance Latest revamping of plans for expansion in Oakland include turning former maintainance By Paul T. Rosynsky Staff Writer OAKLAND -- The design of Oakland International Airport's terminal expansion and parking garage project has changed several times since it was conceived more than five years ago. But the last changes have been made and the next phase of the project is almost ready to fly, airport officials said this week. This newest design, which envisions a rectangular parking garage and realignment of Airport Drive, will make the rebuilt airport more convenient than would have been the case under other designs considered the last five years, officials added. The first design proposed a two-story terminal with a double-deck roadway and a parking garage shaped like home plate on a baseball diamond. But the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks coupled with a bad economy forced officials to drop that elaborate design in favor of a simpler renovation and five-gate expansion. Then, United Airlines' decision to abandon its maintenance hangar at the entrance to the airport sparked further design changes because the now-vacant prime land could be converted to a third terminal and enable Airport Drive to be realigned. Although the latest plan will cost the Port of Oakland $2.6 million in design work -- after it already has spent millions of dollars for scrapped designs -- officials said the long-term savings will make up for the loss. "We had a good plan, but these are enhancements to that," said Frank Lobedan, director of the port's TEX team, which is in charge of the expansion. "It's going to be less expensive for the port to accommodate these changes now." The Port Commission's aviation committee agreed this week, voting to recommend that the full commission approve three changes from earlier designs. Among the changes are new circular ramps for motorists using the parking garage, a revamped curbside roadway and complete reconstruction of Airport Drive from its intersection with John Glenn Drive to the terminals. "It is part of the industry," said Port Commissioner Darlene Ayers- Johnson. "When you go into construction, you go into it knowing that there are going to be changes in circumstances." Port officials knew when they chose Turner Construction to do the design work that their plans for the roadway and parking garage could change. But the latest changes could not be done in time to be included in the firm's original bid, officials said. While Turner will design the parking garage and new roadway, the firm isn't guaranteed it will get the construction job for the two projects. Even though Turner will have an advantage, it must compete against other companies once the projects are bid later this summer. The changes will give the port room to accommodate further modifications when a master plan of the airport is completed. Those changes include turning the former United Maintenance Hangar into a Terminal 3 and leaving room for a BART airport connector. Construction of the roadway and parking garage is expected to be completed by 2007, a year after the expansion and renovation of Terminal 2 is finished. In the meantime, the port will have to conduct a balancing act between the need to accommodate construction crews and passengers. --- End forwarded message ---