Lighthouse Repairs To Commence Next Month
[Updated with video] $500,000 in renovation work/repairs at the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse will commence next month, Minister of Government Estates and Information Services Michael Scott said today [Sept 25].
Minister Scott said: “During the past few months, there has been understandable public concern regarding the state of the building and the fact that required work on the building has not commenced as yet.
“There can be no doubt that Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, with some of the most stunning views in the world, remains one of the Island’s premier tourist attractions.
“The Government therefore agrees that every effort must be taken to improve the facility both aesthetically and from a safety and health perspective. We have now carried out an exhaustive assessment of the lighthouse and have determined that some $500,000 in renovation work/repairs is required.
“The required scope of work includes painting the exterior of the lighthouse, sand blasting all metal surfaces and installing a new 48” high guardrail on the observation deck.
“Existing washroom facilities will be modernized and expanded and washrooms that are accessible to the physically challenged will be added. The main cottage at the lighthouse and ancillary storage buildings on the site will be upgraded and renovated also.
Minister Scott continued: “The external painting of a structure as tall as the lighthouse requires the construction of scaffolding and the services of a highly specialized team. To that end, we have sought quotations from painters and construction companies with expertise and experience in painting and repairing tall steel structures.
“I deeply regret that the renovation and rehabilitation work at the lighthouse has not commenced as yet. However, I am able to confirm that the job of painting the lighthouse has now been tendered and the selection process has been concluded.”
Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse was built in 1844, and began operation on May 1, 1846. The hill on which the lighthouse stands is 245 feet high, while the structure itself measures 117 feet from base to light. Its beam of light runs 362 feet above sea level, and ships 40 miles away can see it. To climb to the top of the lighthouse, one must take eight flights, or a total of 185 steps.
Minister Scott’s full statement follows below:
Good Morning, ladies and gentlemen of the media, and thanks very much for attending this press conference.
I have earlier advised that Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse was on the list of Major Buildings Upgrades to be carried out by the Department of Public Lands and Buildings within the Ministry of Government Estates and Information Services. During the past few months, there has been understandable public concern regarding the state of the building and the fact that required work on the building has not commenced as yet.
There can be no doubt that Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, with some of the most stunning views in the world, remains one of the Island’s premier tourist attractions. The Government therefore agrees that every effort must be taken to improve the facility both aesthetically and from a safety and health perspective. We have now carried out an exhaustive assessment of the lighthouse and have determined that some $500,000 in renovation work/repairs is required.
The required scope of work includes painting the exterior of the lighthouse, sand blasting all metal surfaces and installing a new 48” high guardrail on the observation deck. Existing washroom facilities will be modernized and expanded and washrooms that are accessible to the physically challenged will be added. The main cottage at the lighthouse and ancillary storage buildings on the site will be upgraded and renovated also.
The external painting of a structure as tall as the lighthouse requires the construction of scaffolding and the services of a highly specialized team. To that end, we have sought quotations from painters and construction companies with expertise and experience in painting and repairing tall steel structures.
I deeply regret that the renovation and rehabilitation work at the lighthouse has not commenced as yet. However, I am able to confirm that the job of painting the lighthouse has now been tendered and the selection process has been concluded.
The Department of Public Lands and Buildings has consulted closely with principal stakeholder groups, including the Department of Tourism, the Department of Marine and Ports Services, the Department of Parks and the operator of the restaurant at the lighthouse, with respect to the work to be carried out. There is general recognition that in order to complete the required scope of work efficiently, cost-effectively and safely, including the erection of scaffolding and sand blasting the lighthouse and its grounds will have to be closed to the public. However, careful scheduling of the work in consultation with the lighthouse’s restaurant and gift shop operators will ensure that the operation of their businesses is not impacted negatively in any way as a result of the closure.
I am obliged to make the point here that the tendering process and the closure of the lighthouse grounds in order to carry out the works at a time that is convenient to the concessionaires at the lighthouse have contributed significantly to the delayed beginning of the renovation project.
In these circumstances, I am pleased to advise that the work at the lighthouse will commence next month. I am satisfied that the work to be carried out will see the lighthouse’s speedy return to a condition of excellence about which we all can feel proud.
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- Photos: Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Repairs Underway | Bernews.com | February 12, 2014
Well of course. An election is coming. So for the next couple of months, roads will get swept more often, things will get fixed, work will start on a few projects, roads will be repaired, ferries will be tarted up, a/c systems in buses might even get some attention.
All temporary, and all on borrowed money.
@Zombie Apocalypse: Yeah, like all the overgrown roadside foliage-I wonder if they’ll get to that? The roadside brush is overgrown like crazy all over the island. Gone are the days when it was nicely cut back and neatly trimmed evenly right next to the kerbs…
I don’t know the right terminology, but the workers would take their shovels and cut into the grass right next to the kerb leaving an even line of exposed dirt all along the kerbs-now it’s just sprouting all in the road. It looks very untidy. I haven’t seen any road crews out and it looks like the roadside brush hasn’t been cut for months on end. So that’s one more thing for them to add to their list…
About time!
Like the election…..ABOUT TIME!!!
Hallelujah! I was wondering when this was going to get done. It’s sad the lighthouse was neglected for this long. I thought maybe they wanted it to match the “white and rust” color of the ferries
It was right of Minister Scott to apologize for the tardiness (another tourist season is in the books). Now, let’s hope he and others hold some feet to the fire and make sure not one cent over $500K is spent!
Minister Scott,you need to retire…. we have had enough of your B.S.and guess what we are not going to take it anymore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do they think the public are idiots.
Maintenance should be an always,on going thing for the light house and the rest of Bermuda.
Doing it now, smells of it is that voting time of year.
Of course if it had been regularly looked after in the first place, it wouldn’t cost so much for the current remedial work. Kind of like the ferries, the buses, the tugs, the schools, the roads ….
Oh well, everyone remembers Beyonce right?
Because of the election!
$500,000.00 Is that correct?
Yes! Half a million, Then you will have to factor in the cost over run.
Plus you have to add the cost of interest, as this is on borrowed money that will not be repayed for decades.
Geee! I wonder what company gave such a massive quote for the work to be done. One would think with the all the hefty quotes for certain construction jobs being done for government there was a minister who owned a company that benefitted by them.
Nevertheless its good this is getting done because we wouldn’t want the railing to break & someone to go splat like our economy. Well that is some of our economy since some construction businesses seem to always have work. HMMMMMM!
One thing is for sure this government are not embarrassed to show their incompetence. And yes their should be an election every year so things can get done..
” The Government
therefore agrees that every effort
must be taken to improve the facility
both aesthetically and from a safety
and health perspective”… You gotta be kidding me that’s a no brainer of course it has to be fixed. What he is trying to say is that it is government’s decision not Joe Public who without constant complaining it would never happen. So their they go blowing their own trumpet pre election. I wonder why the company that is doing the work wasn’t named?
Buys from Tahn or Correia…….
Hell, I remember when Leonard Flood painted the damn thing by himself.
But it stills needs more. The iron is rusting.
Lets buy a Space shuttle and put it up there or a few Royal Palms.
Leonard Flood use to paint the TV transmission towers on his own..
Arguably, continual maintenance (at least once every quarter) of the lighthouse would be *much* cheaper, though…
$500,000 will do very little by way of maintenance, it’s way beyond that sum.
Who did they agree with? Our visitors? The voting public? A cousin in need of a couple of shackles?
Oh well, the sheepeople will rejoice.
Bermuda’s debt has reached 2 billion! sad!!
you are actually incorrect, our debt is still at the $1,450,000,000 (or $1.45bn) with the addition of this $500k. your reply just goes to show you how out of tune a lot of voters are with that ENORMOUS amount of money the government really is in debt, not $1,450,000 … but add in three more zeros! makes you think inna..
sad, but true.
$500,000 really come on that is a bit much…..
Should not have been allowed to get into that state from the beginning….how about regular routine maintenance? I’m sure there are SOME low risk prisoners at Westgate that can assist..let them earn their keep……
Don’t recall see the RFP/Tender. Seeing as they’re starting next month, who got the gig?
Hey Minister Scott,
Let’s hope some of the $500,000 could go to the inside of the lighthouse.
Please don’t ignore the horrendous neglect to the faded photographs etc. there which look to be about 50 years old. Could the Maritime Museum’s talented staff ,who do such a marvellous work with preserving our heritage, please take a look at the Lighthouse which has a great story to tell.
Well, with owning one of the longest running sandblast companies on the island, I find it interesting that I was never asked to even bid on the job. I never even read about it in the paper being out to tender! Perhaps if they shopped around they might be able to save us (the tax payers) some money!!!!!
How about placing a Bronze statute of Lenny in front of the lighthouse. the bie was almost that tall.
Is this the reason why Michael nearly decked Derek out in the House kitchen, an argument over who gets the contract and all that comes with it? Interesting that it is over such small pickings when back in the good old days BDA Housing Corp could pay a guy $700,000 to paint two houses…Times must be tough even within the feeding trough that pretends to be a government.
it very sad the lighthouse has been so neglected all these years.. Never use to be.
Maintaining the light house every year would not have costs that much today if maintenance had been done once year on it…. THE NORM…
It is never too late for a shower of rain, too bad it was left for so long. I look forward to seeing this iconic landmark looking immaculate once again. Mr. Scott you can teach some of your colleagues how to conduct themselves before the camera,nothing pompous or arrogant about the way you made your delivery yesterday. We have to move Bermuda forward one way or another with whomever in the leadership role.