Posted by: Editor on Sep 12, 2006 – 10:46 AM
newsandinfo The government is moving speedily ahead in its quest to upgrade the country’s airports and bring them in line with international standards. And it is for this reason it is investing heavily in the Marsh Harbour International Airport, which is the gateway to the Abacos.
This airport is the third busiest in the country, welcoming over one million visitors to the island each year. And in its anticipation of attracting even more tourists to the island by way of developments, the government is committed to completing a $10 million facelift to the facility, inclusive of a new terminal and a traffic control tower.
Minister of Works and Utilities Bradley Roberts unveiled the plan for the facelift earlier this week at a recent town meeting. “The Marsh Harbour terminal building will be expanded from its current size of 4000 square feet to 20,000 square feet.
In order to ensure full compliance with ICAO standards, the terminal building was designed by the well-known aviation experts Kelsey and Edwards in conjunction with Bahamian architect and planner, Mr. Bruce LeFleur,” he disclosed.
“Our architects have designed a new access road and have also made adequate provision for parking. The planned works to the terminal building and its ancillaries are estimated to cost $5.5 million.”
Bahamas Hot Mix won the bids to make initial improvements to the Marsh Harbour airport, but Minister Roberts also invited local contractors to submit tenders for the construction of the new expanded terminal. “The government of The Bahamas will be spending in excess of $10 at the Marsh Harbour airport which will achieve the following: improved airside area, expanded terminal, access road and parking, new air traffic control tower, and a new fire station building,” he said.
Bahamas Hot Mix, the winning bidder, will commence work within two weeks and is committed to executing the project at an accelerated pace. “Invitations to contractors to submit tenders for the construction of the expanded terminal will go forward within ten days. We are looking forward to executive a contract with the winning contractor by the end of October or early November,” said Minister Roberts.
He said construction of the new $10 million airport in Marsh Harbour must and will be materialised especially as projects like Bakers Bay and the Abaco Club in Winding bay are set to bring phenomenal growth to Abaco’s economy.
Source: The Nassau Guardian