HOUSTON – KPRC 2 Investigates has learned the redevelopment of the controversial International Terminal Redevelopment Project (ITRP) at Bush Intercontinental Airport is looking for a new executive to complete the project. This comes at a time when the project has experienced massive delays and seen its budget skyrocket over the last decade.
The Houston Airport System confirmed that Steven Andersen, the Executive Program Manager of ITRP, has resigned. Andersen has been the ITRP Executive Manager for several years. In fact, he landed at the airport eight years ago.
In 2018 KPRC 2 Investigates exposed tens of millions of dollars spent without anything to show for the project four years after being announced. At the time, former Mayor Sylvester Turner said he wanted new plans for the project because the old designs didn’t have enough gates to house the wide-body planes, even though the new plan Turner signed off on had fewer gates. Turner also said he was saving the city $500 million after we showed the budget soaring to $1.7 million shortly after being announced in 2014 for $700 to $900 million.
Turner’s savings did not last long as we highlighted last summer the project’s budget climbed again to $1.43 billion.
Airport Director Mario Diaz (no relation) thank Andersen for a “Tremendous Job Well Done” and admits that a “decision has not been made at this time” regarding his replacement. Turner and Townsend remains under contract with the city and continue to manage the project.
The completion for the new Mickey Leland International Terminal is set for spring of 2025, eleven years after changes for the terminal were first approved by city council.