Airport Construction To Commence In April 2017
A press conference was held today to mark the financial close of the airport redevelopment project deal, with officials saying that “construction is expected to commence in April 2017″ and it will take “approximately 40 months to complete the construction of the new terminal.”
Aecon announced this morning that it has “achieved commercial and financial close” on the airport project, saying “CCC will fully subcontract the work to Aecon, a construction contract valued at US$274 million” and “construction of the new terminal will begin shortly and is scheduled to be completed in 40 months.”
Following this today’s press conference, a Government spokesperson said, “This project is being implemented under a framework agreement between the Government of Bermuda and the Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC], a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada.
“Commercially, the project is being delivered under a Public-Private Partnership [P3] business model. Aecon, as the private sector partner, is responsible for the project’s development, financing and long-term operation and maintenance.
“In a press conference today to mark the occasion, Minister Richards was joined by Senator the Hon. Michael M. Fahy, JP, Minister of Tourism, Transport & Municipalities to make the announcement along with the officials from the Government of Canada, Canadian Commercial Corporation and Aecon Group Inc.
“In 2014, the Government of Bermuda, the owner of L.F. Wade International Airport, identified the Canadian Commercial Corporation and their sub-contractor Aecon to finance, construct and operate the project over a 30-year concession period through a public-private partnership [P3].
“Financial Close was reached on March 15th, and construction is expected to commence in April 2017. It will take approximately 40 months to complete the construction of the new terminal.
“Under the agreement, Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited [Skyport], a special-purpose project company established by Aecon, will be tasked with operating and maintaining the existing airport, and with the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of Bermuda’s new, state-of-the-art airport terminal and related infrastructure.
“Skyport will ensure that costs are contained and priorities are aligned without compromising standards for a world-class facility, and will help introduce ancillary activities and businesses that are consistent with the safe, secure and efficient operation of the airport to create a diversified revenue stream that will help pay for the project.
Minister of Finance Bob Richards said, “The Airport Redevelopment Project is one of the most important capital projects ever undertaken on our island shores and will play a crucial role in the renaissance of the Bermuda economy.
“This unique P3 model will enable Bermuda to create significant jobs for Bermudians without putting the government further into debt.
“The Bermuda Government is pleased to be working closely with the Canadian Commercial Corporation and its experienced, highly capable Aecon team on this project and I am very pleased that construction of our much needed, new state-of-the art airport can commence.”
The 27-minute live video replay of today’s press conference is below:
Minister of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities Michael Fahy said: “The hopes and dreams of every Bermudian are contingent on fully-functioning air services and there is no second option – no other airfield to land the goods we need to survive; no other airstrip to ferry our people back and forth on educational adventures around the globe; no other options for emergency airlift.
“We are obligated to mitigate the risk of losing this important asset, by putting in place the most necessary plans to replace out-of-date buildings that have out-lived their usefulness.”
Martin Zablocki, President and Chief Executive Officer, CCC, said: “I would like to thank the Government of Bermuda for choosing to work with Canada on the redevelopment of L.F. Wade International Airport, and offer my congratulations on achieving commercial and financial close.
“This government-to-government project embodies the value, trust, and collaboration of the long-standing bilateral relationship between Canada and Bermuda. Knowing the positive economic impact a modernized airport can have on Bermuda, CCC is excited to play a key role in the delivery of a world-class, customized solution to meet the needs of Bermudians – for both today, and generations to come.”
Steve Nackan, President, Aecon Concessions, said: “I would like to congratulate the Government of Bermuda on this momentous achievement. Reaching financial close is an important milestone for the project, bringing us one step closer to delivering Bermuda an airport to be proud of, and providing a first-class welcome to its visitors.
“I would also like to thank the negotiating and advisory teams on both sides who have worked tirelessly over the last two and a half years to make this landmark project happen. We look forward to building not only a new airport, but a lasting, positive relationship with Bermuda.”
OBA – 1 the rest of Bermuda – 0
And Trump wants to build a wall but Mexicans build tunnels.
LMFAO
PLP just digs a hole.
And flushes the money down the toilet…
someone forgot to explain to the plp sheep voters that
oba1 the rest of bermuda 0
is actually an anti oba comment
for the pep sheep that means it is against the OBA hence the use of the word anti
not sure if you can all recast your votes now but very funny
Dopey
I wish they would start construction on a marina that would accommodate my private flotilla of yachts. This place is ridiculous. A Commodore and man of my wealth can’t get these simple creature comforts on this island.
JB, build it yourself if you that wealthy!!!
The stake holders and those with vested interest are all smiling .$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
JB where have you been?? havent heard from you in a while!
Well done Team Bermuda!
Let de Canada celebrations begin.
Congrats to the OBA for the economic assassination of this country! Well done! Hope the inquiry commission finds out how much you sold out the people for!
If you don’t want the airport, don’t use it. Simple.
According to the Minister of Finance it is $278 million
According to David Burt it is $2 Billion
I wonder if we will ever know the truth
Given the incompetence of the previous PLP government when it concerns numbers and money, I’ll go with the Minister of Finance on this.
Sounds fuzzy to me.
??
fey ???
?
? Brown ?
Well well well!! Just in time for AC! Perfect first impression for the big event!! CNN….ABC…BBC….ESPN…etc….
“In 2014, the Government of Bermuda, the owner of L.F. Wade International Airport, identified the Canadian Commercial Corporation and their sub-contractor Aecon to finance, construct and operate the project over a 30-year concession period through a public-private partnership”
First statement shows we were mislead from the start. 2014 OBA chose Aecon.
Glad to here and will be glad to see but where are the job adverts?
None of those protesters should be allowed to apply for jobs at the new airport site. You can see the faces of every protester in those hours of protest videos, so it should not be hard for any employers to recognize and ban.
Then maybe they will realize how dumb they are.
All that money and they had to use plastic lawn chairs. will look really good on FOX. ABC, NBC and the likes
go TEAM Trump
Glad to hear the airport will be started next month. The ongoing stench of sewage in the Air Canada/British Airways lounge is really disgusting and unhealthy.
Where can we apply for work?
Well done. Way past due. Our airport was an embarrassment for every Bermudian. Finally.
Now can we progress with the the term limits issue that was clearly supported by an overwhelming number of Bermudians as evidenced by every poll.
We need to increase our aging and shrinking population or jobs will continue to shrink.
This is simply math. Bermuda is not the “promised land” that everyone is begging to visit or live in. We need to encourage people to visit and or move here.
Now let’s get this ball rolling as its way way past due.
Start date is already a year delayed. An extra year to put up with the leaks, the smells, the heat, the general decay of the old building.
If you were part of any of the protests thank you for the delay. We could have had a building coming out of the ground by now.
Nope. Start date was always April 2017.
My comment should have said “pathways issue”
My mistake
Amazing. They now will start to collect all revenue (and profit since it’s profitable) from the airport….right before our most busy summer in decades.
Why not wait another 3 months…
I agree we need a new airport and I don’t care what company does it or where they are from, but there’s a lot of stink that comes from how this has all been handled.
SO IF THIS GOT PASSED, then pathway to status will have a high chance of being passed as well, this is a slippery slop situation.