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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 3:03 p.m., Friday, October 26, 2007

New in-line baggage screening coming to Lihue Airport

Advertiser Staff

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $6 million for improvements to Lihu'e Airport that will feature a new in-line baggage screening system equipped with an Explosive Detection System.

The money is part of the administration's 12-year, $2.3 billion airports-modernization plan.

"This project will streamline the screening of passengers' checked baggage at Lihu'e Airport," said Lingle. "In addition to strengthening security at the airport, the new screening system will ease congestion in the ticket lobbies and make traveling through Kaua'i more pleasant for residents and visitors."

Work will include replacing the existing baggage conveyor system, installing a new system and integrating it with the Explosive Detection System, building the necessary monitoring and electrical rooms and enhancing the airport's existing electrical system to support the detection system.

By removing stand-alone baggage screening machines from the ticket lobbies and decreasing the chance of bags being tampered with once they are checked in, this project is intended to alleviate congestion in ticket lobbies, improve service to airport customers and increase the overall safety of Lihu'e Airport's operations.

The total project cost is estimated at nearly $23 million. The remaining $17 million comprises a previous allotment of $2.6 million, a Transportation Security Administration grant in the amount of $9.5 million and $4.9 million that will be included in the administration's budget request for fiscal year 2009.

Design is scheduled to be completed in December. Construction is expected to begin in April 2008 and be completed in July 2009.

Last month, Lingle released $82.1 million for similar improvements at Kahului Airport and Honolulu International Airport. A total of $23.9 million was released for construction of an in-line baggage screening system at Kahului Airport, scheduled to be completed in October 2009.

And $58.2 million was released for Phase 2 of in-line baggage screening improvements at Honolulu International Airport's Overseas Terminal. Construction for this project is scheduled to be completed in May 2010.