Reconstruction on the Juneau International Airport’s North Terminal is expected to start next year and cost about $21 million. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Reconstruction on the Juneau International Airport’s North Terminal is expected to start next year and cost about $21 million. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Major project waiting in the wings for the airport

About $50 million in work expected in the next five years

About $50 million in projects is expected at the Juneau International Airport over the next five years, said airport board members Thursday during an annual joint meeting with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly.

A big chunk of that work — $22 million — will be a taxiway reconfiguration. Another will be an overhaul of the airport’s north terminal that’s expected to cost about $21 million.

“That’s a lot of money coming into our city,” said Mayor Beth Weldon.

The terminal reconstruction project factored in significantly to the meeting’s discussion.

“This project comes not too soon as airport maintenance staff has at times had to employ much creativity to keep all the parts and pieces working,” said airport board chair David Epstein. “The phrase held together with chewing gum and baling wire comes immediately to mind.”

Airport manager Patty Wahto was not present at the meeting due to illness, Epstein said.

Angela Rodell, finance chair for the airport board, said generally speaking the state contributes almost nothing to the airport capital projects. About 5 percent comes from the city and 95 percent comes from federal sources, she said.

[Airport starts parking expansion project]

The north terminal is the oldest part of the airport, and Epstein said portions of it date back to the 1940s.

Reconstruction on the Juneau International Airport’s North Terminal is expected to start next year and cost about $21 million. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Reconstruction on the Juneau International Airport’s North Terminal is expected to start next year and cost about $21 million. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Work to reconstruct the terminal are expected to start about this time next year, Epstein said after the meeting, and would be anticipated to continue into 2021.

During the meeting, Epstein asked the Assembly to consider allowing an exception to a CBJ ordinance that requires Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification that he said could potentially add another roughly $1 million to the project’s cost.

Epstein said that estimated cost is based on what would need to be spent to ensure the reconstruction earned the certification and having someone certify it.

“I fully understand the importance of sustainable design in today’s world, however, I wish to point out the Juneau airport has already established a high bar in this area principally exemplified by the incorporation of a geothermal energy heat field into the main terminal reconstruction when it is completed.”

He said since federal money can’t be used for LEED certification efforts, that’s $1 million that would need to come from the airport.

Discussion among board and assembly members settled on the idea of the airport board proceeding with making a presentation to the Juneau Commission On Sustainability, which would then share a recommendation with the city manager.

Some other resolutions

During an update on operational aspects at the airport, board member Dennis Harris provided an update on things the airport is doing after Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Labor inspections.

Harris said in January, the FAA audited the airport as part of a compliance check for a grant process and found four areas of corrections, and preliminary answers were sent t0 the FAA on March 8.

One of the audits findings was that the fire station is on airport property but does not pay rent to the airport. Harris said Capital City Fire/Rescue provides services to the airport, and those can be demonstrated as a reason for why rent is not paid.

[Feds to help fund Juneau’s drug enforcement efforts]

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hangar is also located on airport property and had not been paying rent due to a decades-old agreement, but Harris said it has agreed to pay rent.

A family owns a parcel with a hangar located in the middle of airport, and the FAA requires that the family either pay rent for the property dating back to 2011 or the airport acquire the parcel. Negotiations are ongoing, Harris said.

Also, the FAA requested additional information about services — water, city, personnel services and more — for which the airport pays the city.

Harris said documentation has been forwarded to the FAA.

City Manager Rorie Watt said he anticipated the other matters would be resolved in a “budget neutral” way.

Also, in June 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor found code violations, which Harris said have since been corrected with one exception — fall protection training.

“That’s scheduled with the state trainers now,” Harris said.

The airport was fined $34,000 for the violation, but Epstein and Harris said the Department of Labor allowed the airport to purchase safety items instead of paying the penalty.

“We bought things like first aid kits, defibrillators and equipment to help find foreign objects and debris on the airfield,” Epstein said.


• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.


Jerry Godkin, vice chair of the airport board, speaks during a joint meeting between the Juneau International Airport Board and the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly joint meeting Thursday, March 21, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Jerry Godkin, vice chair of the airport board, speaks during a joint meeting between the Juneau International Airport Board and the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly joint meeting Thursday, March 21, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

More in News

(Juneau Empire File)
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File
Even the Grinch got into the holiday spirit at last year’s Gallery Walk on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
An abundance of traditional and new ways to capitalize on this year’s Gallery Walk

More than 50 events scheduled Friday afternoon and evening from downtown to Douglas.

This view is from Wrangell on Sept. 11, 2022. (Photo by Joaqlin Estus/ICT)
Conservation group supports formation of new Alaska Native corporations

The conservation group the Wilderness Society has changed its position and now… Continue reading

From her hospital bed on Friday, Nov. 24, Christina Florschutz demonstrates how she pulled pajama bottoms that she found in the landslide debris over her legs, arms and head to keep warm. Her house was destroyed in the landslide, and after spending the night in the wreckage, she was rescued the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 21. (Caroleine James / Wrangell Sentinel)
Elementary school aide who survived Wrangell landslide calls circumstances a miracle

Christina Florschutz trapped overnight by landslide that killed at least 4 people, with 2 missing.

Lylah Habeger (left) and Jaila Ramirez lead the Konfeta Corps during a rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” at Juneau Dance Theatre. The ballet will be performed in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.At.Kalé auditorium Friday through Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Dance Theatre)
‘Nutcracker’ tradition, with a twirl of new choreography

This year’s performances feature a cast of 93, ages 5 to 78

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Rain at the National Weather Service Juneau station on Nov. 11 doesn’t exist as snow until hits the upper portion of nearby Thunder Mountain. So far this November has been both warmer and wetter than normal. (Photo by National Weather Service Juneau)
El Niño playing outsize role in Juneau’s warmer temperatures, according to National Weather Service

Early peek at numbers shows Juneau is 4.9 degrees warmer than average this November.

An emergency rescue vehicle parks in front of the Riverview Senior Living center at midday Monday after resident Nathan Bishop, 58, was discovered in the attic about 40 hours after he was reported missing. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nathan Bishop found alive in attic of Riverview Senior Living complex after 40-hour search

Family members say they remain supportive of facility’s locally available assisted living services.

Most Read