One of the most dysfunctional and costly construction projects in Southwest Florida may be back on a flight path to resolution expansion of the existing terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport is approved for a second time.

As WGCUs Mike Walcher reports, the do over at RSW will require a lot more time and money.

The goal is simple make it easier for ever growing crowds to pass through walls w and give security checkpoints more space.

But work stopped more than a year ago.

The builders said the design plans could weaken the existing terminal, maybe even cause the roof to collapse.

So how to get from this to a badly needed expanded terminal?

First, the Lee County Port Authority commissioners had harsh words for Darren Larsen from Atkins, the design firm.

Atkins has admitted the engineering plans were faulty.

This was a yes lightning strike, almost, catastrophic, if you will.

And they had words for John Ryan, president of Manhattan Construction, the builder that spotted the flaws.

But that still doesn't.

The fact that it was a major mistake.

Larsen said Atkins has new plans, safe ones, using more steel and concrete and adding carbon fiber to make columns stronger.

Ryan said Manhattan likes the plans.

And what about dumping the companies and just starting over?

Here's Port Authority Director Steve Hennigan.

You're probably looking at, you know, six, seven years and upwards of $5 million.

Commissioners voted yes for another $347 million.

That money allows Hopkins and Manhattan to build again with new plans, and includes 12 million for solutions to inspect the engineering and construction.

This comes on top of 331 million from the first agreements in 2021.

The companies by contract must report delays of more than 30 days and cost overruns of more than $100,000.

I can rely on what they told me today, on camera, on record, on any of the contracts that we're signing.

The Port Authority admits there will be more disruption for passengers, as the expansion that was supposed to have been done late last year now won't be finished until late 28 or early 29.

We are to refer all our questions to Vicky Moreland.

She's, She's in there will be here.

So if you.

How do you feel about having another shot at this?

I'm sorry.

Please, see Vicky Moreland.

So you have nothing to say to the traveling public that's going to be interrupted?

Sorry.

No.

Vicki Moreland is communications director for the Port Authority.

She promises to fill us in on passenger reaction.

Once work begins inside the terminal.

For now, some people acknowledge r s w must have more space safely built.

Well.

It's unfortunate.

It's too bad there maybe wasn't better planning involved with that.

But I'd rather have them found out that the plans were not correct.

Early on.

Correct it and then move forward.

It's an inconvenience, but I think it's one of those necessary evils.

Professor long, when chairman of the Whitacre College of Engineering at FCC, you says people from all the companies have to make more effort to solve issues if they can work together now.

Leave the project that improve the passenger experience, improve that capacity, the passenger capacity volume for that, and then improve the economic impacts to Southwest Florida.

That is the projects and that is the long term impact.

Work will start this spring with tearing out some areas that are considered flawed.

That alone will take several months.

The 347 million does not come from property taxes, but rather grants from governments and fees from airlines.

But the airport director notes airlines can increase fees on tickets if and when they want to pass along costs to passengers.

For WGCU news, I'm Mike Walcher