New tower to rise at LaGuardia

Motorists driving past LaGuardia Airport on the Grand Central Parkway will have more to look at than just ascending and descending jets. Construction is finally underway for a new 233-foot air traffic control tower scheduled to open in June 2010.
At the official groundbreaking ceremony on February 28, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Marion Blakey said, “The passenger wants safety and efficiency and we’re putting the pieces in place to keep on delivering it.”
The new $100 million tower is replacing a 42-year-old, dilapidated tower that has contributed to delays on the runway because of its leaking roof and outdated equipment.
Compared to the current 150-foot tower, FAA spokesperson Jim Peters said the airport would be safer with the new taller tower because it will “provide a better line of sight for controllers working at the airport, giving that additional margin of safety.” From the current tower, the U.S. Airways terminal obstructs the view of certain taxiing areas.
In addition to its height advantage, the tower will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment including an Airport Surface Detection System that will provide controllers with a visual of the location of planes and vehicles on the runways.
The Category II Instrument Approach will assist aircraft landing during poor weather and a diesel generator will allow controllers to continue to operate if power is lost.