The level of disrepair at Tulsa International Airport’s air traffic control tower is shocking.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum described just how shocking Thursday.

“Now that we are here and we’re getting ready to break ground, I feel like I can finally tell you that for the last 20 years, the single greatest threat to our economic growth…the single greatest threat to us keeping and growing the Oklahoma Air National Guard here, the single greatest threat to us keeping American Airlines, the largest commercial maintenance base in the world here, has been that glorious piece of 1950s architecture you see behind me right there,” Bynum said at the groundbreaking for the new $112.6 million Senator James M. Inhofe Air Traffic Control Tower Complex.

Commissioned in 1957 and completed in 1961, the current tower is “held together with duct tape and baling wire” and has been riddled with elevator breakdowns and occasional bee and hornet infestations, the mayor said.

In the past five years, the airport’s maintenance staff has completed 422 work orders on the facility, said Alexis Higgins, CEO of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust.

“It is a miracle that we have made it to this point without an economic calamity for our city,” Bynum said.

Bynum was among an estimated crowd of 200 that heralded the proposed new tower, which is scheduled to be operational in the spring of 2027.

At 257 feet, it will be more than 100 feet taller than the existing one. Besides improving visibility, the new structure also will allow the airport to develop additional property on its land.

“While the core mission of air traffic control remains focused on safety, the technology, infrastructure and training has progressed in the six decades since our current tower was built,” Higgins said. “…I think all our controllers would agree that now is the time for an upgrade. It really was time about 20 years ago, and they’ve been patient with us these past two decades.”

Higgins said Bynum’s support of the project triggered a coalition of funding at the city, county, state and federal levels.

She added that because of Inhofe’s strong leadership in Congress, he was able to secure a $40 million appropriation for the project, the largest aviation-related appropriation in Oklahoma history.

Inhofe died in July at age 89.

“Senator Inhofe’s legacy is greater than I can describe here today, but his passion for aviation and service to this community will not be forgotten,” Higgins said. “As a frequent aviator who enjoyed navigating the airspace around Tulsa International (Airport) and Tulsa Riverside (Airport), I know he appreciated the professionalism and services provided by air traffic controllers at both airports.

“I’m thankful that I, along with the airport board, had the chance to share this (tower naming) news with him prior to his passing, and I hope that his family will be able to join us for the dedication of the new facility.”