CONSTRUCTION delays at Tulsa International Airport

Tuesday, June 5th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Delays at Tulsa International Airport that have nothing to do with the airlines. A long list of projects was set to be complete before next week's US Open, but one big part will not be.

KOTV's Emory Bryan says over the last few months the airport arrivals area has been crowded with construction workers and narrowed by barricades. Much of the work has been focused on this giant canopy, to protect passengers from the elements. It was supposed to be done Sunday, but it won't be. Workers all over the airport grounds are finishing up months of cosmetic surgery. The front entrance has been landscaped and the last "T" in airport was hammered into place Tuesday. But the arrivals area, around baggage claim, is still a war zone of steel and concrete with welders and grinders working at full blast.

Even with extra shifts and all hands working, the canopy project will not be done by the Sunday afternoon deadline to clear out and clean up. Brent Kitchens, Airport Director: "All the projects inside the terminal are complete. And then our canopy, they're working as hard as they can unfortunatley some of the steel arrived late but they'll have the center section of the canopy up it'll all be painted the signs will be up, unless you're really looking you won't see that's it's not totally complete." The airport began $15 million dollars worth of work - with the goal of having it done before the US Open.

The airport and the city wanted to impress the thousands of fans flying in. And even though it's not done, passengers are beginning to notice. Cleo Davis, Airport Passenger: "What I see, what they've completed so far is good, because I have a point of reference I go back 40 - 50 years so whatever they do to it will have a positive effect on it."