Photos & Video: Groundbreaking For New Airport
[Updated] The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction on Bermuda’s new airport terminal was held this morning [April 27], with the Town Crier getting the proceedings underway.
Those delivering remarks included Premier Michael Dunkley, Minister of Finance Bob Richards, Minister of Tourism, Transport & Municipalities Michael Fahy, Canadian Commercial Corporation CEO Martin Zablocki, Aecon founder/President/CEO John Beck, Aecon Concessions President Steve Nackan, and Skyport President Aaron Adderley.
The groundbreaking ceremony has just concluded, and we will have additional information as able, and in the meantime the live stream replay is below.
The 31-minute live video replay is below:
Update: Representatives of the Bermuda Government, Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC], Aecon and Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited joined together today to officially break ground on the new 277,300 sq. ft. airport terminal.
“The ceremony at Stone Crusher Corner marks the start of construction for the Airport Redevelopment Project, one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Bermuda,” a spokesperson said.
“Construction is scheduled to be completed in 40 months and will take place away from the existing terminal, allowing L.F. Wade International airport to continue running uninterrupted.
“Once complete, the new terminal will be modern and comfortable, marking a new era in Bermuda’s air travel experience. It will feature improved concession offerings, comfortable passenger lounges, accessibility features for the physically challenged, better passenger flow and six enclosed passenger boarding bridges. The new airport has been designed with sustainability in mind and will meet industry quality standards for customer service, security, and immigration.
“Aecon, the constructor of the new airport, intends on maximising the use of Bermudian sub-contractors during construction. The first contracts were awarded earlier this week, predominantly to local firms. Aecon is currently recruiting workers for construction of the new terminal as is Skyport for day-to-day operations and maintenance of the existing airport facilities. The project is a major catalyst for job creation. It will boost the local economy and help provide jobs for Bermudians.
“The Airport Redevelopment Project is being carried out under a framework agreement between the Governments of Bermuda and Canada, with Skyport as the entity tasked with operating and maintaining the airport and overall Project delivery, and Aecon as the general contractor. Under the agreement, CCC, a Crown corporation of the Government of Canada will ensure that the airport construction will be delivered on time, on spec and on budget as per the terms and conditions of the contract.
“Skyport, as the private sector partner, is responsible for the project’s development, financing and long-term operation and maintenance over a 30-year concession term. Aecon, the airport developer and founder of Skyport, brings extensive experience in developing and building major international airports such as Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and the Quito International Airport.
“Supported by Aecon and significant Project financing, Skyport will have greater resources at its disposal, which will enable it to provide a better experience to those travelling to and from Bermuda. Skyport will also work to develop exciting new airline routes for Bermuda.
“Now that construction is underway, residents and the travelling public will see heavy equipment and an increasing number of workers on the project site. The new terminal will start welcoming travellers to Bermuda in 2020.”
Update: A photo gallery has been added below
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Premier Dunkley said: “This groundbreaking marks the beginning of an exciting time for Bermuda. The next 40 months will see the introduction of hundreds of jobs and career opportunities for Bermudians as we build the new airport terminal that Bermuda so desperately needs.
“I would like to thank everyone involved; we have secured a deal which allows us to build a state-of-the-art airport terminal with no new debt. This will enable us to maintain our vital access to the rest of the world and to secure Bermuda’s reputation as a premier travel destination.”
Canadian Commercial Corporation CEO Martin Zablocki, said: “We are very pleased to be working with the Government of Bermuda to deliver a world-class airport terminal, which will serve as the gateway to Bermuda. We look forward to working with Bermuda to use Canadian expertise in delivering this project of national importance, that will provide benefits to Bermudians both for now and generations to come.”
Steve Nackan, President, Aecon Concessions, said: “We are honoured to be able to work with Bermuda on such a historic project. Over the past two and a half years, we have developed many relationships with Bermuda’s businesses, people and community and we look forward to building on these as we get to work this week. We are not only invested in Bermuda’s airport but also in its future.”
Aaron Adderley, President of Skyport, said: “This is the beginning of a new era for Bermuda’s air travel experience and we’re happy that Skyport will be helping to shape it. The new terminal will allow us to provide more services in a more efficient way to our visitors and residents and will help ensure that Bermuda has a facility that meets today’s industry standards.”
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Hooray, hooray, hooray. Looking forward to leaving and arriving my 1st class island through a 1st class facility.
Stake holders pulled a Houdini and rubbing their hands. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
nah. ya a numpty Onion Juice. we know where ya stakes are held mate
Didn’t we have the groundbreaking for Ariel Sands hotel a few years ago? What ever happened to that project?
small point but … wtf are they using Canadian hats!
Exactly! If you need a clearer sign than this that this whole thing was a TAKEOVER, then something is wrong!
“Exactly! If you need a clearer sign than this that this whole thing was a TAKEOVER, then something is wrong!”
oh please, how pathetic of you.
Grow up
That’s Aecon’s hat mate.
your name is a perfect description of your comment
Can’t believe how insensitive this is at least
Um cause its a canadian company.
Why you acting brand new? It’s because they’re a Canadian company.
“Didn’t we have the groundbreaking for Ariel Sands hotel a few years ago? What ever happened to that project?”
same thing that happened to the groundbreaking in st georges by the plp…no-where…but you choose not to remember that, right?
Yah! that just got blown to bits and all that came out of that was a pile of dust. boom! lol
They have selective memories! And Also Ariel Sands is privately owned. If they chose not to spend there money so what!
Could it be that the supposed tourism boom is a figment of some folks optimism and not reality? How many units at The Loren have been sold in a year of marketing ? Private money likes to make money and if money was there to be made Ariel Sands would have investors, be under construction and be more than a gated beach and five condos.
I fully support the airport project but this is the sort of thing that the OBA fails at time and time again. Such a simple process to realize this is a challenging project for some Bermudians so why not have hard hats that represent both Canada and Bermuda. Seems a simple step but time and time again this government is doing the right thing but terrible at the PR side of the project….
five minutes of graphic design is all it would have taken.
Government PR people are simply not qualified to do their job.
That’s the standard Aecon hardhat, its nothing special.
couldn’t agree more ….
” Seems a simple step but time and time again this government is doing the right thing but terrible at the PR side of the project….”
Bermudians do nothing but complain…at least the OBA aren’t like the previous government.
It’s a freakin hat. Get over it.
Bunch of clowns
They even brought their own town crier.. Hear Yee, hear yee!! The Canadians are here…
My bad, that’s Mr. Frith…
Sooooooooo, when is the airport name change going to take place? Cause you know its coming, mark my words. Sad, I tell you……
“Sooooooooo, when is the airport name change going to take place?”
Why do you think the name will be changed?
They specifically said thy wouldn’t…but I guess you’re not capable of comprehending that.
I still was hoping that the current Government would see the value in putting an actual bridge across to the airport instead of the decade old “temporary” structure sitting on piles of rocks, instead of selling more of Bermuda to Canada, guess we need to vote with our feet again
“I still was hoping that the current Government would see the value in putting an actual bridge across to the airport instead of the decade old “temporary” structure sitting on piles of rocks, ”
It was the plp who put that bridge on the piles of rocks, why don’t you ask them why they didn’t fix it properly? They certainly didn’t have a problem spending money.
“Sooooooooo, when is the airport name change going to take place?”
Why do you think the name will be changed?
They specifically said thy wouldn’t…but I guess you’re not capable of comprehending that.
Safe to say that if you were protesting about the Airport being built that you won’t be down there begging for a job now right?
I am going to miss the old arrivals hall
Yes yes yes so proud of this our great government
I just hope the cedar from the airport doesn’t disappear:)