Indianapolis airport garage slated for major repairs - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Less than four years after opening, the five-story parking garage at Indianapolis International Airport needs up to a million dollars in repairs.

"A lot of what we're doing in the bidding is preventive maintenance," said IAA Executive Director Bob Duncan.

Duncan said the work involves concrete repairs, joint seal replacements and "reducing the potential for water infiltration."

The airport has had problems with water leaking down the stairways and elevator shafts when it rains or snows. Rust is evident on the stairs. The Airport Authority put gutters around the elevator shafts last year. They've also put sandbags around the stairwells as a temporary fix.

Duncan said the water issues are not related to the canopy collapse following an ice storm in February 2011. The Teflon canopy gave way under the weight of heavy snow and ice, with ice chunks falling on cars below.

Asked if the seepage problems were the result of a design flaw, Duncan said, "When you have a building of this size, you're going to have repairs. A lot of it is wear and tear and to some degree it's water getting in the building more than we anticipated but we're dealing with it."

Still, Duncan said the airport authority did review all garage design/construction contracts and warranties. He said the warranties on the $106 million garage were good for one year.

"Those particular contracts expired, so you don't necessarily start litigation where you don't have a good chance of prevailing," he said.

While Duncan was careful not to lay blame, it's clear he hopes the repairs hold up longer than four years.

He said the work will be paid for out of the airport's capital fund, which gets its money from things like airline fees and concession and parking revenue - meaning if you use the airport, you ultimately pay for it.

Duncan said the IAA plans to award the bid in September with work beginning soon after. The repairs are scheduled to be done next June. Duncan said the work should have no impact on people who use the garage.