CONSTRUCTION works on the Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) Redevelopment project is due to commence by early next year – as government awaits a technical assessment of the overall undertakings at the site.
Infrastructure Minister Stephenson King disclosed that government has reviewed the status of the HIA project and have employed the services of international consultants to help deliver this national infrastructural development entity.
He said the authorities have been in contact with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and also held dialogue with a group of consultants, and “out of an abundance of caution” liaised with the World Bank (WB), and IFC to provide an assessment of the existing project.
King says government wants to acquire as much “fiscal space” as possible and to dispense of resources in other critical areas.
“The consultants who looked at it (HIA project) have made some recommendations, so where we’re at, at this time is at the Air Traffic Control Tower, which is currently under construction,” he explained.
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“The remaining part of the project includes the Terminal Building, and because of some of the changes that we have made to the designs, there was a recommendation to tweak the design to reduce costs and that is now being worked out,” said King.
He said, by the time work is completed on the Air Traffic control tower “we will be in position with a revised design of the Terminal Building …and one of these changes involves the roadway, which is a major cost for the project.”
The minister stated that by this November or December, they anticipate that the designs will be completed, so “we can move on with that part of the project”.
King adds that the other part of the project will entail “aspects to deal with the new runway …and we are hoping that very soon, we will be in a position to get the green light to proceed with it, by sometime early next year.”
He said quite a bit of work is being undertaken “behind the scenes” though it may not be visible, publicly.
With different factors and clauses being implemented into the HIA project, what is the time frame like for completion of this venture?
He explained, notwithstanding the delays that has held back work at the site, “originally we are talking about 36 months when we started and we had discussions on this issue …but because of the delays that we’ve encountered both in terms of the reviews and the whole issue of conditions at the site …that by the end of 2024 going into 2025 thereabout , we can probably be looking easily for some semblance of an international airport.”
Meanwhile, Minister King noted that government is “actively pursuing” prospects regarding the North-South Link Road project. He said there is “much interest” in that roadway.
“We have not done any in-depth cost analysis …but the preliminary cost on it, is anywhere in the vicinity of USD 400 to 500 million,” King said.
He added that there are some investors who are interested in finding the resources to embark on that road project. The ‘backroad’ project would include the route from Gros Islet to Babonneau, through Dauphin and into Dennery.
King says should the government go through with this endeavour, it “would certainly transform that North-Eastern coast of the country”.
The Infrastructure Minister stated that government has “not abandoned” the idea and feels “it is a national vision for the country and it is very important for our social network and economic advancement, at this time.”