The Panama City–Bay County International Airport Authority is celebrating the successful topping-out of the new airport’s 147-foot Air Traffic Control Tower. The new airport, slated to open in May 2010, will be called the Northwest Florida-Panama City International Airport.
Using two cranes, workers placed the 100,000-pound, pre-fabricated, steel-framed cab section atop the concrete tower structure. The cab section was then bolted into place. Over the next couple of months, work crews will be building out the glass-enclosed structure and installing an elevator.
When the new airport opens next May, air traffic controllers working in the tower will have a 360° view of skies.
“This is another great milestone in the construction of our new airport,” said Joe Tannehill, chairman of the airport authority. “We continue to progress on schedule and budget. When completed next spring, the new airport will be state-of-the-art and a source of pride for all of us in Northwest Florida.”
The airport terminal building and air traffic control tower are being constructed by Wallbridge Construction. AllState Steel constructed the cab section.
Construction on the new $318-million airport began in January 2009. It is the first international airport built in the U.S. since Sept. 11.
To view a video and photographs of the topping-out of the Air Traffic Control Tower and for more information about the new airport: NewPCAirport.com.
We were invited to video record this spectacular event, you can see the video here: http://pcbdaily.com/airport/airtrafficcontroltower