Dec. 19--NEW HAVEN -- Construction of a new "wildlife hazard deterrent fence" to keep critters like the deer that was struck by a plane in 2012, off the runways at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport will begin within a few weeks, following Wednesday's award of a $1.5 million contract, officials said.
The Tweed New Haven Airport Authority voted unanimously Wednesday to award the contract to G. B. Hastie Fence Co. of Agawam, Mass.
Hastie was low bidder when bids were opened on Oct. 22, said Susan Godshall, Tweed's administrative director.
"We anticipate" construction will begin "as soon as the contract documents are signed and insurance is in place," Godshall said. She said she anticipates that it will be complete by April 15.
The work must be done by May 1 because the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will not allow work to take place after that date for fear it might interfere with bird breeding season, she said.
The fence is being funded under the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Grant program. The FAA will pay 90 percent of the cost, with the state paying 7.5 percent and the authority, via the city of New Haven, paying 2.5 percent.
The city's share will come from bond funds, Godshall said.
The Canadian owner of an air ambulance that was seriously damaged when it struck a deer on the airport's runway Sept. 20, 2012, sued the airport and its operator in federal court last week, seeking $5 million in damages.
The figure covers the actual damages to the airplane plus the value of lost bookings during the several months the plane was inoperable, said New Haven attorney Jonathan J. Einhorn, who represents Toronto-based Fox Flight Inc.
The plane was carrying a hospital patient when it struck and killed the deer, which wandered onto the runway during takeoff. Several other deer also were visible, officials have said, and the lawsuit says that "numerous wild deer were present on airport runwaysand on areas of the airport designated for landings and takeoffs" at that time.
The four-page lawsuit names the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and McLean, Va.-based AFCO AvPorts Management LLC, which operates the airport under contract with Tweed.
Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.
Copyright 2013 - New Haven Register, Conn.
