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www.sxmislandtime.com
 PHILIPSBURG - Ground breaking for the airport runaway and safety area took place yesterday at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).
This project will also see the redirection of the airport road, east of the runaway.
The runway and safety areas is part of international airline safety standard and includes safety area measuring 150m on both ends of the runway. PJIAE President Eugene Holiday gave an insight into the works to be done with this new project.
The project includes the diversion of the existing airport road and its utilities along the shorelines of the filled in area in the Simpson Bay Lagoon; provision of proper drainage for run-off water, relocation of the airport perimeter fencing, condemning of the existing road, extension of the runway and installation of a new turning pad to the north and the shifting of the runaway declared distances for takeoff and landing including painting of the runaway markings and re-alignment of the runaway threshold and runway lighting installations.
~US$13 million investment~
This represents an investment of US$8.7 million and is expected to be completed in eight months.
Holiday noted that the upgrade of the road north of the airport and the preparation for the runway safety project over the last seven years, amount to US$13 million.
MNO Vervat will be the company spearheading this project and Holiday hopes to have it completed on time and within the prescribed budget.
He also apologized in advance for any inconvenience this project would pose to the general public when it begins.
Holiday also gave a rundown of the initial preparation for the project, which elapsed over a seven year period.
"In 2003, to comply with these safety requirements, we at PJAIE taking land constraints into account, embarked on a phased approach aimed at bringing the airport to a point where it complies with international and national safety standards," Holiday said.
In preparation for the long term solution, Holiday said two major investment projects were completed.
The first one was capital investment which includes 30,000 square meters of land running into the Simpson Bay Lagoon.
That work was completed in 2005 involving US$1.3 million. The second capital investment involved re-location of the jetty and ramp which was completed in 2009 at a cost of half a million US dollars.
These projects were financed from the airport's cash flow.
"We have been working on this project since 2003. I am therefore particularly pleased that we are officially kicking off these works today," Holiday said.
The airport official expressed thanks to all those who supported this project including the Board of Supervisory Director and his staff who worked on the project.
He highlighted the importance of this project to the tourism development of the island and the aim of the island to be a leader in the region for airport safety and quality services.
   
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