Fewer Searches as JWA Roads Reopen

John Wayne Airport reopened all entrance roads and scaled back vehicle searches Thursday after the federal government lowered the national terrorism alert from “high risk of attack” to “elevated risk.”

For seven days, two of the airport’s four street entrances were closed, and sheriff’s deputies randomly inspected taxis, shuttles and automobiles outside passenger terminals as well as those entering parking lots.

As other airports did around the country, John Wayne officials increased security under a federal directive after the Bush administration warned earlier this month that the U.S. was at a high risk of terrorist attack.

“We are back to normal. All our access roads are open,” said Ann McCarley, a spokeswoman for John Wayne Airport. “We have received word that the alert level has been lowered.”

The terrorism alert level was raised to orange -- the second-highest rating -- on Feb. 7, prompting the government and businesses to impose extra security measures at buildings, utilities, airports and other key sites. Yellow is the third level on the five-step scale.

John Wayne Airport is accessible to motorists from Campus Drive, the offramp from the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway, Michelson Drive and MacArthur Boulevard. During the heightened alert, the Michelson and MacArthur entrances were closed.

Although random searches outside terminals have been halted, deputies will continue to inspect vehicles entering the airport’s parking facilities. Those searches were initiated shortly after the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Despite the reductions in security, airport officials advise travelers to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departures to clear ticketing procedures and security checkpoints in time.