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BASE IMPROVEMENTS:Life at C-F-B Trenton is about to get a little more crowded.
November 26, 2009
LIFE AT C-F-B TRENTON IS ABOUT TO GET A LITTLE MORE CROWDED. AFTER AN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION, BASE OFFICIALS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ANOTHER 334 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ACTIVITY.
AS NEWSWATCH'S MAX WARK EXPLAINS -- THE WORK WILL TRANSFORM THE AIR FORCE JUMP OFF POINT INTO ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED FACILITIES IN THE MILITARY.
THIS IS THE NEW NORM FOR ENGINEERS AT C-F-B TRENTON.
EVERY DAY THEY INSPECT VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION SITES -- MARVELLING AT THE BREAKNECK PACE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SET TO MODERNIZE CANADA'S LARGEST AIR FORCE BASE.
BAKER:
"IN MY 17 YEARS AS A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE."
ANNOUNCED JUST THIS PAST SUMMER, WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN ON SIX NEW BUILDINGS AT THE NORTH END OF THE BASE.
TOTAL PRICE TAG -- 334 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE MOST IMPRESSIVE IS A 122-MILLION DOLLAR HANGER THAT WILL HOUSE THE BASE'S GIANT C-17 GLOBE MASTER TRANSPORTS.
A 200-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT SHOULD BE UP WITHIN FOUR YEARS.
O'LEARY:
"YOU COULD THINK OF IT AS BUILDING A HOUSE EVERY ONE TO TWO DAYS."
ALL THIS CONSTRUCTION HAS CREATED A BOOM FOR LOCAL CREWS.
WITH THESE SIX BUILDINGS, 18-HUNDRED PEOPLE WILL PUT THEIR SHOVELS IN THE GROUND.
HAGGERTY:
"IT'S BEEN NICE FOR THE LOCALS THAT ARE ALL GETTING A FAIR SLICE OF THE PIE -- IF I CAN USE THAT TERMINOLOGY.
SOME OF THE LARGER JOBS, WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF OUT OF TOWN CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK."
COMPETITION FOR THE MILITARY CONTRACTS IS FIERCE... LEADING TO SAVINGS FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
HAGGERTY:
"IN SOME OF OUR PRICES, WE'RE SEEING REDUCTIONS OF UP TO 50-PERCENT ACTUALLY."
THE NEW BUILDINGS ARE ON TOP OF WHAT'S ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.
LAST SPRING'S 30 MILLION DOLLAR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER IS BUT A DISTANT MEMORY FOR ENGINEERS -- WHO'VE ALREADY MOVED ON TO OTHER PROJECTS.
BAKER:
"I'M SURE THAT I PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS AGAIN."
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE CANADA'S AIR FORCE UNDERGO A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION AS FAST AS SHOVELS CAN TOUCH BASE.
MAX WARK, CKWS NEWSWATCH, CFB TRENTON
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