Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
RICHARDS
GOVERNMENT IS to commence major work on the Norman Manley International Airport in January, amid talks of relocating the airport.
President of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Earl Richards, says the aim of the project is to build a new departure concourse to accommodate increased traffic.
The work is to be carried out as phase one of the Government's 20-year plan for redevelopment of the airport and should cost $69 million. It is to be completed by 2007.
MINOR PROJECTS STARTED
Minor projects have already begun, to facilitate and hasten the beginning of the master project. The airport has begun to relocate some airlines and demolish hangers they now occupy. These include hangers occupied by the national carrier, Air Jamaica.
"We have to demolish certain sections of the airport which could not be rehabilitated to last another 10 or 15 years," Mr. Richards told The Gleaner.
He says the 20-year master plan aims to comply with international regulations and takes into account facilities to cushion the increasing traffic through the airport, and security issues.
The redevelopment is to cost Government an estimated total of $128 million and is to be completed in three phases. Phase 1(b) is to cost $47 million and should be completed by 2012, while the final phase is to cost a near $18 million and should be completed by 2022.
MAY STILL RELOCATE
But despite the Government's vested interest in redeveloping the airport, there may still be plans to relocate the airport to Vernamfield in Clarendon. Parliament proposed that the airport be relocated last year in light of devastation the Palisadoes tombolo suffered due to Hurricane Ivan.
"They're still considering it," Mr. Richards said, but would not comment further.
Government pledged $480 million to rehabilitate the tombolo last month, in light of erosion caused by storm surges from three hurricanes over the past year.
