Despite delays to a federal funding bill, the new terminal at Grand Forks' airport remains tentatively on track to being completed in June, according to airport Director Patrick Dame.
"We're within striking distance of getting the building done," he said.
A little more than $1.4 million is needed, which could push back the schedule for the widening of Airport Drive and demolition of the existing terminal, he said, but the new terminal itself probably wouldn't be affected.
The road widening and demolition is to be paid for with discretionary funds, he said, which requires Congressional authorization. The terminal can make use of entitlement funds, which are based on a Federal Aviation Administration formula that includes the number of passenger boardings at the airport, and the feds continue to disburse those funds, he said.
Grand Forks' airport gets about $1.3 million a year.
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The total cost of the new terminal and projects associated with it had been pegged at $23 million, but Dame said lower than expected bids suggests it'll end up in the $22 million to $22.5 million range.
He said he expects Congress to pass the funding bill fairly soon. The FAA was confident enough to tell him, he said, to go ahead and solicit bids for the road widening to be ready to go the moment Congress does act.
