TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Investigation Into Tampa Airport Ceiling Collapse Continues

ADVERTISEMENT

By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2009

TAMPA - The inquiry continued today into the collapse of a ceiling at a Tampa International Airport parking garage early Monday morning, and the cause has not been determined, an airport official said.

"We are still investigating the incident," airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said. "Finding the cause will help determine who is responsible for the damage to the garage."

A 50-by-150-foot portion of a ceiling that covered a small area of the ground floor of the long-term parking garage, in an area used by rental car companies but not accessible to the public, caved in about 2 a.m. Monday.

No one was injured, but three cars were damaged.

The ceiling covered the ground-floor portion of a small atrium-type area on the nine-story garage, which is used by rental car agents on the first two floors and the general public on the seven floors above.

The ceiling, which was added in 2002, was attached to columns but was not designed to provide support to the garage, which was built in 1991. Officials said Monday the collapse of the ceiling did not damage the structural integrity of the garage.

Airport officials, city inspectors and representatives from Creative Contractors Inc., which built the ceiling, continued to assess the incident, Geoghagan said.

There is no estimate of the cost needed to repair the damage.

Rental car operations for airport patrons were not affected by the incident.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT