Ogdensburg airport board approves generator conduit change order
The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority approved a $33,555.30 change order for future generator conduit work at Ogdensburg International Airport while discussing project delays, costs and a proposed engineering extension.
By Caleb Mercer, ClickNNY North Country Desk
The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority approved a $33,555.30 change order for conduit needed for a future backup generator at Ogdensburg International Airport’s terminal renovation project. Board members also discussed a separate request to extend engineering services through December 2026.
The conduit was not included in the original plans. Executive Director Anthony Adamczyk said completing the work during the Gateway Improvements Terminal Renovations Project would cost less than returning later to disturb finished construction. The airport does not currently have a backup generator, leaving the facility without electricity and lighting during a power outage.
The change order will be paid from the project’s original $800,000 contingency. Officials said about $244,000 would remain after this and other expenses. Chairman Sam Burns and board member Megan Whitton criticized the project’s planning and oversight, saying the need for backup power should have been identified earlier.
The board also considered a $150,000 request from McFarland Johnson to continue construction-phase engineering through December 2026. The work would include construction administration, project representation, coordination and closeout services after changes to the construction schedule.
Adamczyk said the delays came from the construction contractor and that the authority was pursuing liquidated damages to recover costs tied to the extended schedule. He said recovering those costs was not guaranteed. Burns said the project had been scheduled for completion in June 2025 and was essentially completed in February 2026, while related issues continued to be addressed afterward.
The state announced the terminal project in December 2023. It received an $18 million award through a $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, with a total estimated cost of $21.5 million. The terminal was built in 1980.
The project discussions come as the authority faces financial pressure. The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority lost more than $1 million in bridge traffic revenue in 2025, and September 2026 crossings remained below pre-pandemic levels, with the shortfall on pace to reach about $1 million.
Board members asked McFarland Johnson representatives to attend a future meeting. The authority’s official board meetings page provides meeting information. The authority can also be contacted at 315-393-4080 or obpa@ogdensport.com. More information is available through the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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