DEADLY. Missing rebar may be a factor in the collapse of a Paris concourse roof section. (Photo courtesy of ADP)

Marc Noyelle, executive director and chief development officer for Aeroports de Paris, briefed the group of about 30 U.S. and Canadian airport officials on the status of the Charles de Gaulle Airport concourse. The steel-tensioned arched concrete structure’s collapsed portion supported three pedestrian bridges connecting the main building and concourse to a boarding area. Investigations and clean-up continue, Noyelle said.

The collapse of the section 30 months after completion killed four people. A preliminary report said external tubular steel struts punctured the roof and likely triggered the collapse (ENR 7/12, p. 10).

Engineers have determined that the connecting passage and main building, separate from the boarding area, are safe. Those sections reopened Aug. 17. Officials must decide whether to reinforce the 650-m, $30-million shell or replace it. "We would be glad if we could use the [shell] when it is repaired, hopefully in 2006," says Noyelle. Repair costs could reach $147 million. A temporary 8,000-sq-m facility will be completed next year.

PEERS. Fife (third from left) stands with Erie, Paris and Buffalo officials. (Photo by Aileen Cho for ENR)

Noyelle is the peer review group’s first overseas participant. Transportation Security Administration officials also attended the peer review, founded by William Fife, aviation director of DMJM+Harris, Los Angeles, and Buffalo airport officials (ENR, 11/13/00, p. 66). "It’s a good idea," says Noyelle. "You always learn something from others."

Noyelle asked about and learned that reinforcing runways with asphalt instead of concrete on the corners where planes turn inevitably leads to ridges, pits and shaving, thanks to San Diego and Washington, D.C., officials.

Stantec Architects, Vancouver, presented the design for a planned new 74,000-sq-ft, $23-million charter airport terminal in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Stantec vice president Stanis Smith received advice ranging from allowing for checkpoint queuing and tour bus drop-offs in the lobby to designing space for baggage cart returns.

TSA officials said that a $17-million research program deploying various security technology such as biometrics and virtual perimeter surveillance at test airports will result in a "qualified products" list. Ground surveillance radar that already exist to detect intruders on active runways may possibly be expanded for general airport surveillance.

Airport officials from Miami to San Diego cited rebuilding of baggage handling areas as a major challenge, with traffic patterns unpredictable due to airline woes and baggage size. "You could put a refrigerator in some of these bags," said Ken Johnson, Boston Logan modernization director. "They do," replied Mark Forare, Miami Airport assistant director.