Bradley Traffic

To See Substantial Growth

WINDSOR LOCKS (AP) — State officials have been told that Bradley International Airport will see substantial growth in the number of passengers passing through and the number of planes coming in and out.

Consultants released a report on April 13 indicating that the number of passengers using the airport will grow by 50 percent between 2002 and 2012.

The 3.26 million travelers boarding flights at Bradley during 2002 will grow to 4.08 million by 2007 and to 4.76 million by 2012, according to projections made by Parsons Brinckerhoff Aviation Inc.

The report also said the number of annual takeoffs and landings at Bradley, which dropped to about 147,000 in 2002, is expected to rebound in coming years and exceed 176,000 by 2012.

The information was released at a public workshop at The New England Air Museum. The consultant, hired by the state Department of Transportation to produce a 20-year master plan for development at Bradley, also offered three preliminary scenarios for continued expansion.

Suggestions included relocation of some facilities on or near the airfield to consolidate freight operations or small-plane services at Bradley. Another option is consolidation of Connecticut Air National Guard and Army National Guard bases.