Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering stood before the House of Assembly Friday and told his colleagues that the decision has been made: The existing runway at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport will be extended by 2,500 feet — 500 to the west and 2,000 to the east into the sea.
A pre-qualification phase used to screen “interested and appropriate companies” is under way and is expected to be complete by August, according to Dr. Pickering.
Firms that complete that phase will be asked to submit “a final detailed proposal for the planning, design, financing and construction of the project,” he said.
He added that government hopes to choose the final company or consortium to extend the runway by October so that construction can begin by December.
In addition to the selection process, the minister added that the BVI Airports Authority is currently reviewing a technical report produced by the International Air Transport Association about the approach that aircraft will take landing at the airport. A prospective approach was designed by the United Kingdom-based firm Davidson and will have to be approved by Air Safety Support International, the territory’s regulator, Dr. Pickering said.
See the July 5, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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