New access control plan proposed at GJ Regional Airport

You may remember all the frustration over new fences and gates at the Grand Junction Regional Airport.

Now after months of work, the Airport Board says it’s come up with a solution.

Board members say the main issue is accessibility.  

People complain that prison-like fences have cut off aviation businesses from normal commerce.

The TSA doesn't require fences, but does require access control.

Because of anger surrounding the fence being built last summer, the board assigned a Security Solutions Committee.  That committee recently submitted a new proposal to the TSA.

They couldn't give us all the details of the plan because some of it is considered sensitive information, but did say the plan would remove part of the General Aviation Area from the Air Operations Area.

“Our hope is that we have approval of this proposed change and that we see a restoration, in fact, an enhancement of accessibility into this area,” Security Solutions Committee member, Stephen Wood, said.

Because of the strain that the airport's current security protocol is placing on community interests, Senators Udall and Bennet, and Representative Tipton, sent a letter to the TSA urging it to consider this proposal as quickly as possible.

The Security Solutions Committee is expecting a response in as little as a few days.