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A done deal? Airport expansion to be completed by 2015

- Runway to extend 2000 feet eastward into the sea, approximately 500 feet towards the west
The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport Runway will be extended 2000 feet eastward into the sea and approximately 500 feet towards the west. Photo: VINO/File
Dr. Kedrick Pickering speaking at one of the community meetings in March 2012, revealing to residents the plans and options for the extension of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File
Dr. Kedrick Pickering speaking at one of the community meetings in March 2012, revealing to residents the plans and options for the extension of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Today June 29, 2012, Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering has announced that the final construction of the runway extension, which is expected to be completed by December of 2015, will be extended approximately 2000 feet eastward into the sea and approximately 500 feet towards the west.

During this morning’s House of Assembly sitting, Dr. Pickering, who has spearheaded meetings on the airport expansion recently, and had disclosed possible options for expansion, has now committed to a more concrete decision.

During meetings held in March 2012 with residents, the Government had indicated it was leaning towards option six, which will cost about $38M. With this option, the runway would have been extended to some 7,000 feet from 4,000 plus feet, and accommodate AB 390, 320 and the Embrea 190. It was also expected to reduce the environmental impact, which would save the salt pond and beaches in the area, reduce crosswinds, and accommodate code C and D aircrafts. However, the disadvantages include higher weather minimums- meaning jets would have to use a height of about 1,290 feet and the runway must be visual, as well as the circling approach. The concerns include future widening will have an environmental impact on Trellis Bay and the salt ponds.

And with Winston Wilson hired as the Project Manager for the expansion project, Dr. Pickering disclosed that members of the BVI Airports Authority Board have begun the task of reviewing the Impact Assessment study that was submitted by Kraus Manning at the end of May 2012, as well as, the Technical Report submitted by the International Airlines Transport Association (IATA).

He further disclosed that the Airports Authority has commissioned Davidson Ltd., a company in the United Kingdom, to produce a report on feasibility of conducting an approach by high performance jet aircraft to the runway. The company was also charged and has delivered approach charts for the said approach. Davidson, in their report, has recommended an aeronautical study prior to any night operation by high performance jets at the T. B. Lettsome International Airport. This report will be submitted to Air Safety Support International (ASSI) for final approval, Hon. Pickering told members of the HOA.

He added that Government has also implemented a two-tier process to guide their selection in which companies are given contracts for the development.

He noted that in step one of this two tier process, they will be sending out, as early as next week Monday, an “Expression of Interest” document. “In this pre-qualification stage, interested and appropriate companies will be invited to respond to a set of prequalification criteria. This stage is expected to be completed by August 2012.”

Meanwhile, the second stage of the process will be the “Request for Proposal” commonly referred to as the RFP stage which is scheduled for October 2012. “In this stage, the companies selected in stage one will now be required to submit a final detailed proposal for the planning, design, financing, and construction of the project. In this final stage the Government will select the company or consortium of companies best suited to move ahead with the project. This is expected to take place during October and December 2012 and then we begin the final construction of the runway extension which is expected to be completed by December of 2015.”

Reassurances of negative impact on Trellis Bay

Dr. Pickering reassured that during the expansion, nothing will be done to negatively impact Trellis Bay.

In addition to the elevated embankment, he said they are also considering another engineering solution which involves the construction of an elevated platform on columns. “This option, Madam Speaker, will not interfere with the wave action that is necessary to flush the Bay. Therefore, the fear among its users that it would eventually become a “dead bay” can be debunked.”

He noted that the technology, even though new to the Caribbean region, has already been used elsewhere in the world in the construction of either runways, taxiways or aprons structures with one such airport being the London City Airport which was completed in September 2003.

“Encouraging” meetings with Jet Blue

The Deputy Premier also disclosed that dialogues have begun with airlines interested in flying from the mainland US directly to the VI once the airport runway is extended.

“The Managing Director, Mr. Denniston Fraser and myself were in New York this week where we met with executives of Jet Blue Airlines on June 25, 2012. This meeting was very encouraging and we are expected to meet with other interested carriers in the coming months.”

17 Responses to “A done deal? Airport expansion to be completed by 2015”

  • bigger picture (29/06/2012, 17:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    why is clive petrovich there? he is an environmentalist for hire and doesn't have the back bone to tell what he really thinks or knows... and under questioning at public meetings he KNOWS what he wrote is off. we need more outsiders when it comes to EIA consultants.
  • bob cat (29/06/2012, 18:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh lord Pickering friends in trailis bay going get a stroke
  • under the bus (29/06/2012, 18:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hope this airport project do not have some elected people end up in the pits of hell!!!!
  • yes we can (29/06/2012, 20:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    go pico go to hell wid dey crtitics
  • ooooo (29/06/2012, 21:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    there goes minister kadahfi aka dr done deal
  • Diaspora (29/06/2012, 22:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Without a doubt transportation (sea, air) in and out of the BVI is critical to growth and development; it is also critical to sustaining the economic twin towers---tourism and financial. And it is also critical to building new economies. Nonetheless, we need to a closer look at the production-possibilities frontier for the combination of air/sea options that can best meet our transportation needs. The BVI need to seek multiple and different views on crafting the best options. Though consultants provide valuable services, we need to look at their recommendations cautiously. They work for the customer and often times produce results and recommendations that reflect the desires of the customer. To be fair this is not practice of all consultants. In regards to the airport expansion, just a few questions. What is the opportunity cost of investing $35M, i.e., what else will not get done? Can the projected passenger loading sustain direct flights? Why were meetings being held and exercising the community if the airport expansion was a fait accompli, i.e., decision already made? What was the #2 option? Does not the requirement for accident potential zones (APZ) adversely impact some current businesses and land? Does not expansion reduce the use and density of surrounding lands? Moreover, the minister is doing the right thing by holding talks with potential air carriers to fill the void being created by thepotential loss of AE. The big question is AE pulling out because the route is unprofitable or other operational reasons? Nonetheless, discussions and commitments are not the same. Airlines will not establish or continue a route without the consistent load factor to sustain it. The BVI needs answers.
  • Well meh boy (30/06/2012, 03:35) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    The said aim of this government was to boost our tourism product. This may seem at first instance like a good plan but it is not. The BVI is one of the bare boat capitals in the Caribbean, Trellis Bay is an important part of this industry. By extending the airport by either option you are losing the appeal of that destination thus losing income, after all who is going to want to dock and sleep next to an airport that has planes with gigantic, roaring engines to disturb one's good night sleep. Further, large jets create a huge amount of noise pollution this will have the effect of removing a part of our most valuable fisheries which is vital for our local fishermen, many citizens and residents will also be negatively affected by the noise, the noise from jets is 10x worse than those ridiculous scooters that my fellow youngsters ride at all hours of the night. The airport will also take away business from places like "Last Resort" which, you may say is expat and whitie, but let me remind you they pay TAXES and provide jobs for LOCALS. In addition to all this the government wants to extend the cruise ship dock, regular tourists hate cruise ships and so this might negative the potential positives of an extended airport. That aside, where on earth are you going to put all the passengers from these jets? Little Dix, Bitter End. Peter Island, Scrub Island and Long Bay Hotel is way to expensive, that place opposite the Spanish Bar next to right way is too crappy, and Maria's by the Sea as blessed as it is cannot handle so much people. I suggest that the government focus on one thing at a time - finish that hospital, work on Road Town's Stench and maintenance/upgrading of the infrastructure in all of the Virgin Islands and fix that airport on VG (Not Nec. in that order!) Oh and one more thing I born here so tek dat! lol. Our government needs to focus on us before they focus on tourists.
    • uuuuu (01/07/2012, 10:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      any your point again is what???
      • Well meh boy (01/07/2012, 11:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Have you attempted to read the last few lines where I express that the government should focus on the infrastructure and finish existing projects like the hospital. Or is your comment merely a way of expressing that you do not agree with fixing/maintaining the infrastructure, fixing up the VG Airport or finishing the hospital? You don't agree with the citizenry of East End living in some comfort without the added nuisance of the noise created by jet engines?
    • rodent (06/07/2012, 11:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      This can turn into something worse than St Thomas
  • taxpayer (30/06/2012, 09:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, he is right, the water in Trellis Bay will not become stagnant, only the buisnesses along the shore line will. Pickering is very lucky that I am not a little puppy and he is not a tree.
  • asleep (30/06/2012, 09:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the NDP up and down say the aim of this government is to boost our tourism product now after this runway expasion i want to see the stat!!!!.
  • so so (30/06/2012, 15:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we need this project bottom line
  • Good politics (30/06/2012, 19:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This thing will be completed before the next election- another feather in the NDP Cap- BAM
  • not stoping us mow (01/07/2012, 22:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the cuban aint playing boss he moving full speed ahead wid he airport project


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