GREGG COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) – It towers over East Texas Regional Airport, higher than anything else there \u2014 except maybe aircraft. A new beacon tower has been erected, and it\u2019s nearly twice as tall as the old one.<\/p>\n
East Texas Regional Airport Director Max Tovar says upgrades at the airport are ongoing. Today was a tall order.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is our beacon installation. It\u2019s been a long process. We went through the process of bidding, contracting, and just kind of waiting. And now it\u2019s time,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
Assembly was required for the three-piece beacon, and a crane was in place to lift it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have the tower itself, the beacon, all improved by LEDs, so it should reduce our cost as well,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
The old 45-foot beacon had no LEDs, which meant more tower climbing for maintenance. \u201cWe should have minimal maintenance on that. And back in compliance as far as the paint goes. Making sure we keep up with that and keeping the safety of it and going forward,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
New tower, new paint. Surface rust shows on the old tower. An estimated $80,000 to refurbish it, so in with the new. And as far as power:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just going to disconnect and connect,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
The supply is \u201cright behind the old beacon,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
The beacon\u2019s base was carefully engineered, constructed and inspected.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much concrete that\u2019s down there, it should be good,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
After a two-hour setup, it was in place in five minutes. It is resistant to 150 mph winds and is 75 feet tall.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be in full operation tomorrow night,\u201d Tovar said.<\/p>\n
And, while the crane was there, the old beacon was lifted off.<\/p>\n
Tovar said there was a $183,000 price tag for a new beacon, but the FAA will pay 95 percent of that with a grant.<\/p>\n
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