Study Completed: Planned Airport Development
Aecon announced the successful completion of the geotechnical study and topographical survey, which they said was “an integral part of the development phase of the airport redevelopment project.”
The company said, “The work was performed by three local Bermudian companies: Atlantic Well Drillers, Onsite Engineering and Bermuda-Caribbean Engineering Consultants Ltd. The geotechnical study and topographical survey included the assessment of rock elevations, soil condition and strata of the airport site, using both backhoe and drill rigs.
Crews work near the airport’s North Ramp last month
“The information gathered through the studies will help guide the design phase of the project which includes the foundation designs for the new terminal, as well as pavement designs for the aircraft parking aprons, roadways and parking lots.”
“Aecon is pleased to have partnered with three experienced Bermudian firms to successfully and safely complete the required topographical and geotechnical studies – a critical step forward as we embark on the design phase of the project,” said Steve Nackan, President, Aecon Concessions.
“We commend the Bermudian firms for their high calibre of work and we remain committed to offering local businesses the opportunity to participate in future stages of this exciting airport redevelopment project,” he added.
Much as I have tried I just cannot understand why we are going ahead with this project. I am definitely missing something
I actually wasn’t sure either – at first. Part of the problem with this project is that there are so many perspectives….do we need it, is it JUST a political gambit and are we adding cost or giving up revenue. I was interested enough to actually sit with Bob Richards and others and listen to their rationale. At the end of the day I guess I could take it or leave it BUT there is a sense that we will be far better off with a decent airport, it isn’t going to add debt, we are not giving up that much (does anyone think the current airport MAKES money ?) and both in the building stages and in the future operation of the airport…it will provide jobs.
I accept that the process taken was perhaps different from other capital projects but toss politics to the side and implement reasonable business acumen…I think this is going to be a winner for Bermuda all the way around.
Bermuda will be footing the bill for this airport if we fall below a certain number of air arrivals and the revenue dips below a certain number. The devil is in the details.
I think we all are.. Notice how this came up out of the blue, quickly signed into reality then they are digging the next week… I smell a rat.
Did you complain during the PLP years when they spent millions on a new terminal, complete with a marina, then did nothing?
Nope, didn’t think so.
So if I steal $5 and you steal $5 million who is the thief?
That is a totally idiotic comparison
Naturally.
would you expect anything less from the onion juicer??I would be more amazed if it had a thread of COMMOM sense
That an awfully short sighted reasoning that is missing a great many details that are readily available. First, it really didn’t come out of the blue, it has been looked at as far back as 2008, the biggest issue has been financing. Second, Minister Richards announced in the 2014 budget that he wanted to look into the redevelopment, with the stipulation that it would not add to government debt. It was only CCC through Aecon that took the initiative to put forward a proposal. Next, the only thing that has been signed is the agreement to try and negotiate a construction/financing contract with CCC, there is still room for Bermuda to pull out if it is shown that CCC cannot show value for money. And lastly, the only digging that has been done is the surveying studies, so that CCC/Aecon can better understand what is going to be required to build the airport and the costs. They haven’t begun construction and CCC/Aecon still don’t have a contract to do so.
I AGREE 100% Shouldn’t we be spending the money on solar farms and other sources of renewable energy so we aren’t stuck with LNG for the next 20 years? Where are our priorities??? Ain’t NOTHING wrong with the airport we have now!!!
2 things; first, we won’t be spending any money… second, there are so many things wrong with the current airport.
I AGREE!! Shouldn’t we be spending the money on solar farms and other sources of renewable energy so we aren’t stuck with LNG for the next 20 years? Where are our priorities??? Ain’t NOTHING wrong with the airport we have now!!!
What money are we spending?
This is a start. Let’s get the process moving and build us a first class airport, on budget and on time. May well be the first major project built in Bermuda in years that won’t cost us extra dollars or stick it in someone else’s pockets.
Really? We are handing over 1/2 Billion dollars in future revenue for??? Oh rite a Prettier Airport.
And how much expense are we giving up?….you can only moan about lost revenue if it exceeds the expense..give me an airport that employs people and throw in some jetways so people do not have to climb stairs in the rain……
That’s right and when you buy a house with a 30 year mortgage you eventually hand over about twice what the sale price was – any problems?
That is way beyond the business comprehension of people like Mixitup who have probably never even taken out a loan for a bike in their lives.
Timing is everything.
IF this airport is to go through 100%, it will not be completed in time for AC… So yes, timing is everything
Bidding process Edit
According to Private Eye magazine, all of the companies tendering for the job of building and running the airport had by late September, 2006 withdrawn from bidding for the project, which was to be funded by the Department for International Development (DfID). The local Access Office explained that the reasons were unclear but it seems the bidders considered the DfID has been unhelpful by not providing the possibility of on-site investigations in order to complete a detailed design before providing a fixed price for the project. According to the DfID’s Director for Overseas Territories, his department remains committed to an airport for St Helena but at the time of the article there were no new bidders.[58]
DfID restarted the procurement process to identify a suitable Design, Build and Operate contractor in October 2006. Capability Statements were received by DfID in March 2007 and four bidders were pre-approved for the Design, Build and Operator contract and a further three applicants have been pre-approved for the Air Service Provider contract. The applicants for the DBO visited the island for six months from June 2007 before submitting their final proposals, and as of January 2008 DfID is down to a shortlist of two bidders.
It was reported in The Guardian on 10 December 2008 that UK Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander had announced a “pause in negotiations over the St Helena airport contract”,[59] apparently related to the 2008 economic downturn.
The St. Helena Leisure Corporation (Shelco) was set up by Arup’s Sir Nigel Thompson and Berwin Leighton Paisner’s Robert Jones, planning to construct luxury resorts and a hotel to be run by Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in conjunction with the airport. The real estate was to be sold even before construction had started; the proposal was turned down by the local government and the DfID.[60]
We have a lazy government , with lazy , incompetent politians making way to much money to let other people do their job … Bob Richards has to go . There are better ways and many , many more developers in the world then this no bid .. Low rent Canadian company ..
the manner in which it has come about …. leaves a lot to be desired……they say this is progress … thinking negative … not going to help. Being constructive with your words … and weary of what is taking place .. is a plus…we asked for eggs , now we must eat eggs..
one love .. one heart .. peace in all ways & for always
The problem with this project is that it will not bring more people to Bermuda. Saying we wont have to Pay for it is simply creative accounting and only means that we wont have to show it on our books but there is no free Lunch and we most certainly will have to pay for it. As some one above has pointed out probably twice what is being claimed as the price.
Actually, with it being financed by CCC, the financial burden will be on them if it costs more. What they are currently negotiating is the contract the will define out what exactly is being built into the airport, for how much (which is estimated for around $250m), and how much of the revenue they will be entitled to receive in order to pay off the cost they incurred plus the operating costs while they operate it. Once that contra t is signed, if it costs more to build that is on CCC to pay.
The passengers have booked their flight, arrived at the airport & checked in. First call for the flight has been announced & most are onboard.
If the ones who want to winge about he said this & this one said that in the old broken down terminal, fine. The rest of us are on the plane ready to go & leave you behind.
There is no later flight. It is the CCC/Aecon flight or nothing. The terminal is falling apart & is about to close for good.
Causeway can be redone same way with sluicing design and impellor hydro power incorporated to pay back by supplying all power to airport assisted with solar ,wing and cube!
Wing=wind