AIRPORT - Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V.
is continuously within the framework of the airport master plan working
on ways to optimize the effective functioning of our airport as the gateway
to our island and surrounding islands. Our master plan is geared towards
allowing a sustained development of the
Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) so that the effectiveness of
PJIA as the gateway to St. Maarten/St. Martin and the surrounding islands,
for whom we fulfill an important hub function, can be safeguarded.
In working within that context we are constantly faced with the real
constraint of limited availability of land, a constraint which is
exacerbated by the continued construction around the airport.
We view this as a concern from an airport and island wide developmental
perspective. Equally worrisome is the traffic situation on the island in
general and in the area around the airport in particular. We are therefore
committed to play our part in seeking solutions in the interest of the
community we serve.
In view of this we are pleased to announce that we have developed a new
plan for the rerouting of the airport road north of the terminal. This is
because our original master plan for the road network north of the new
terminal is no longer feasible, due to the real estate development plans
of the property owners in the area. According to the proposed plan, which
was initiated in September of 2007, the airport road north of the terminal
building will be rerouted around the current public parking lot. The rerouted
road project will, among others, relinquish the pedestrian crossing over
the airport road and increase the car parking capacity from 313 to 415
parking spaces. The proposed airport road rerouting in broad lines follows
the original plan of our master plan.
The original airport master plan called, for a road and parking network
comprised of first, the routing of the new airport road to the east of
the terminal along the shore line of the lagoon, then to the north and
continuing to the west of the terminal along the edge of the Maho ridge
and second the positioning of the public and employee car parking within
the airport premises. Picture 1 gives a view of the original scope.
Picture 1 - Original routing of the airport road according to the master plan.
To execute the rerouting of the airport road as originally intended,
PJIAE would need to acquire property east of the new terminal and
north-west of the new terminal, the latter being the former BBW property.
However, given that discussions associated with the acquisition of the
latter property were not progressing favorably, we considering the need
to move the phase II project forward decided to temporarily adjust the
road plan pending a resolution of the property issues at hand.
This resulted in a loss of aircraft parking south east of the terminal
for the construction of the current employee parking and the positioning
of the current public parking area north of the new airport road.
Picture 2 gives a schematic overview of the area under discussion.
The decision to designate the public parking lot north of the airport
road was based on a number of considerations from a customer service
perspective. First, during the construction the public used the current
employee parking resulting in significant traffic back-up due to the
constant turning off and on of vehicles to the airport road, to/from
the parking lot. Second, we considered that the current employee parking
is located further from the check-in hall which would mean that passengers
and visitors would have a longer way to walk to the check in hall with
their luggage. And third, the passenger flow within the terminal building
would be affected which would create congestion in the meet and greet area.
To ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing the road a raised pedestrian crossing,
speed bumps and traffic lights were incorporated at the crossing.
PJIAE however remained hopeful that the complications surrounding the
acquisition of the former BBW property would be resolved eventually so
that the original plan could be executed. However, based on discussions
in mid 2007 with the current owners of the former BBW property, it has
now become clear that the original road network as envisaged in the
Master plan is no longer feasible. In September of 2007 PJIA, recognizing
this reality, commissioned Netherlands Airports Consultants (NACO) to
develop a new plan to reroute the airport road as much as possible in
line with the original plans for the airport road.
Picture 3 gives an overview of the proposed rerouting of the airport road
around the current but expanded public parking lot.
The proposed airport road rerouting plan is a variation of the original
plan aimed at:
1. securing and enhancing adequate traffic flow to/from the airport;
2. relinquishing the pedestrian crossing over the main road;
3. increasing the car parking capacity from 313 to 415 parking locations; and
4. maintaining the possibility of future airport development in line
with the master plan.
Coming from the east the proposed rerouted airport road will connect at
the bend, where the entrance to the public car parking is currently situated,
a roundabout will be created at that location. The new road will continue
along the Simpson Bay lagoon flowing along the eastern and northern shoreline
and then curves following the perimeters of the public parking lot to the
west. At the front of the Terminal building the new road will connect with the
existing airport road. To reach the public car parking coming from Philipsburg
direction, motorists can turn left at the roundabout. To reach the public
car parking coming from Maho motorist can use the airport frontage roads.
The works related to the rerouting of the airport road once approved by
government are estimated to be completed within 3 months after commencement.
We have made budgetary provisions to execute the works this year after
receipt of the necessary government permits. We are committed to execute
the works with minimal disruption to airport users and the general traffic.
We are confident that the proposed plan, which considers the technical,
safety and convenience aspects for our airport and road users, will meet
the needs of our stakeholders and ensure the future development of the
airport and thus of our island's economy.
January 25, 2008, Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V.
drs. Eugene B. Holiday
President
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Mission Statement
"To be the regional leader in providing safe, secure, quality and profitable airport services that contribute to the general economic and tourism development of St. Maarten / St. Martin and the region we serve"
