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AIRPORT (February 23, 2009) PJIAE on Monday
afternoon February 23, 2009 initiated the process of reviewing the bids for the
rerouting of the Airport Road in front of the terminal building. Two companies –
Windward Roads and MNO Vervat- had been invited to bid on the project that is
meant to create better traffic flow and improve safety for travelers around the
airport. The tendering process started on January 23, 2009, after PJIAE obtained
the necessary building permits from Government.
MNO offered to construct the new road for US$ 2,197,982. Windward Roads bid for
US$2,335,668.
After the offers by the contractors were opened
in their presence on Monday, a PJIAE Evaluation Committee – comprising officials
from the company’s Technical and Financial Divisions- will evaluate the bids.
Bids will be evaluated on the basis of their completeness, compliance with
required specifications and price. “We should be ready to announce the winner of
the bid within two weeks,” said drs. Holiday. He said that bearing in mind the
urgency to improve the traffic situation at PJIA, the intention is to execute
this project as soon as possible. “We’re looking at a period of eight month and
possibly in a shorter timeframe.”
The rerouting works should in broad lines follow
the original Master Plan for the development of the airport. During the
execution of Phase II of the Masterplan –which included the construction of the
current terminal building – the original plan for the road network envisaged in
the Master plan had to be adjusted. Drs. Holiday explained: “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 and considering the need to move the Phase II project forward, we
decided to adjust the road plan”
In September of 2007 PJIA 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.
The proposed airport road rerouting plan is a
variation of the plan originally envisioned in the Masterplan and aims at:
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securing and enhancing adequate traffic flow
to/from the airport;
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relinquishing the pedestrian crossing over
the main road;
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increasing the car parking capacity;
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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 motorists can use
the airport frontage roads.
PJIAE hopes that through this investment that it
will contribute to alleviation of the traffic congestions on this side of the
island as well provide some stimulus in terms of economic activity in a period
of uncertain economic times.
Reacting to questions by reporters, drs. Holiday
announced that the next project to be executed as PJIAE continues its role of
catalyst of development, is the Runway End Safety Area, which is an addition to
the airport runway, located at its eastern end. “This project also entails a
rerouting of the airport road, where the area is already filled in. We’re in the
process of finalizing the building permits,” said drs. Holiday.
Princess Juliana International Airport
operating company N.V.
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten
drs. Eugene B. Holiday
President | 
