Oct 9, 2007 6:31 pm US/Central
O'Hare Expansion Project On Time, Under Budget
2 New Runways, New Control Tower Included In Massive Undertaking
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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The project to expand and modernize O'Hare International Airport is under budget and on time as of October 9, 2007.
CBS
The project to expand O'Hare International Airport is ahead of schedule and under budget. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports with a first look from high above the construction zone.
A crane soars 300 feet into the air right next to a graceful concrete pedestal. On the ground, a red steel superstructure is about to top off the third of O'Hare's air traffic control towers.
"It's beautiful and seeing out work being done on time seeing the whole job being completed on time, it's a blessing," said lead resident engineer Khaled Naja.
The $6.6 billion O'Hare Modernization Project includes a new control tower, which is necessary for controllers to see one of two new runways. New runway 9 Left is not visible from the main tower because of other buildings blocking the view.
"November 20, 2008, we will be commissioning that new runway, this tower we're standing on," said CEO of the project, Rosemarie Andolino. "Nothing's ever done on time and on budget. It'll be done on time and all our construction projects are coming in under budget."
The project is currently nearly $100 million under budget, and weeks ahead of schedule. Andolino points to a runway where they're about to pour the fourth and final layer -- 17 inches of concrete on top of 2 feet of soil and asphalt. That wasn't supposed to be done until next spring.
The savings in time and money will not erase the 18 months and $270 million lost so far to the continuing dispute with Bensenville. But Andolino says being on time and on budget now makes it more likely they'll move ahead with phase two. That's the new western terminal and several more runways on Mayor Richard M. Daley's wish list for operation by 2014.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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