Saturday, October 10 2009

WORKS and Transport Minister Colm Imbert disclosed that a total of $161 million has been spent to upgrade the Piarco International Airport’s southern terminal.

Imbert’s disclosure was contained in a written response to a question from Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner which was circulated yesterday in the House of Representatives.

The cost of work on the southern terminal includes: north terminal ramp expansion, $140,550,581.13; heavy haul road (east ramp), $4,500,181.50; finger pier demolition, $3,176,043.75; south terminal demolition and ramp construction, $10,694,380 and car park rehabilitation $5,310,015.80. Imbert said all of these works were completed on time and there were no cost overruns.

The minister said the east and west terminal ramps were used extensively by the domestic airbridge and other commercial aircraft.

The additional ramp parking positions at the southern terminal allowed the Airports Authority to “accommodate all visiting aircraft for the Fifth Summit of the Americas without disruption to regular commercial traffic.”

The minister added that construction of an executive jet facility and security surveillance centre at the southern terminal is still to be completed. The tender value for these works is $52 million.

Imbert also said the Junior Sammy Group of Companies is completing the installation of taxiway edge lights as part of the Alpha Taxiway Alpha System Rehabilitation.