Extra TSA checkpoint

The Helena Regional Airport plans to issue a bid for construction of a new security checkpoint tomorrow.

Airport Director Ron Mercer says the new checkpoint will cost the airport about $140.000, but the equipment and staffing will be covered by the Transportation Safety Administration, the T.S.A. He says they hope to have the new checkpoint up and running by the busy summer season. Mercer says adding a second checkpoint will cut down on wait times that passengers have experienced in the past.

"We had some long lines, took 45 minutes in some cases to get through there.  We'll have two checkpoint lines and so when it gets busy they can just slide over to the second checkpoint and get through the security area a lot quicker," says Mercer. 

Mercer says the T.S.A will also be adding a new body scanner for the security area. He says unlike the controversial full body image scanners, this one will show the same outline for every person and is referred to as a 'Gumby' scanner. Mercer says the new scanner will probably start being used toward the fall.

Story by Kaelyn Kelly, Beartooth NBC.
Copyright ©2012 Beartooth Communications Company. All Rights Reserved.