The $3.7 million tower is being built by Crompton Construction, a subcontractor for a firm called Parsons-Odebrecht Joint Venture, and is planned for occupancy in December.
The tower is part of the airport's $2.66 billion North Terminal, which will be used by American Airlines, MIA's dominant carrier, and its partners. The terminal is set for completion in February 2011.
But the project already is years behind schedule, and its scale and costs have ballooned by more than $2 billion in the 14 years since it was approved by the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Only the structural portion of the tower has been finished, according to Greg Chin, an airport spokesman. Work that still remains includes the interior finishes and the installation of computers and communications equipment, Chin said.
Once completed, the Concourse D tower will be occupied by 14 airline employees and three Miami-Dade Aviation Department employees, who guide arriving aircraft into gates and assist with pushing back departing aircraft.
American long has maintained that it needs the 1.2-mile-long North Terminal -- with more gates, an automated people mover, a gate delivery system for baggage, a large federal inspection area and other amenities -- to efficiently operate its Latin American and Caribbean hub. To date, about 50 percent of the North Terminal has been built.
Airlines bear the cost of the terminal through passenger fees. Based on its traffic, American is expected to pay about 70 percent of the cost.
Miami Herald staff writer Erika Beras and photographer Tim Chapman contributed to this report.
story here
The tower is part of the airport's $2.66 billion North Terminal, which will be used by American Airlines, MIA's dominant carrier, and its partners. The terminal is set for completion in February 2011.
But the project already is years behind schedule, and its scale and costs have ballooned by more than $2 billion in the 14 years since it was approved by the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Only the structural portion of the tower has been finished, according to Greg Chin, an airport spokesman. Work that still remains includes the interior finishes and the installation of computers and communications equipment, Chin said.
Once completed, the Concourse D tower will be occupied by 14 airline employees and three Miami-Dade Aviation Department employees, who guide arriving aircraft into gates and assist with pushing back departing aircraft.
American long has maintained that it needs the 1.2-mile-long North Terminal -- with more gates, an automated people mover, a gate delivery system for baggage, a large federal inspection area and other amenities -- to efficiently operate its Latin American and Caribbean hub. To date, about 50 percent of the North Terminal has been built.
Airlines bear the cost of the terminal through passenger fees. Based on its traffic, American is expected to pay about 70 percent of the cost.
Miami Herald staff writer Erika Beras and photographer Tim Chapman contributed to this report.
story here