The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

CONSTRUCTION on Marsh Harbour's airport terminal building is set to be finished in five months, the project's contractor yesterday saying work was currently between 60-70 per cent complete.

During a tour of the facility yesterday,, Fletcher McIntosh, head of FES Construction Company, which last year was awarded the $27.3 million contract for construction of the international terminal, air traffic control tower and fire/crash rescue facility, said: "We are about 60 to 70 per cent completed but we still have a lot more to do.

"The 30 per cent will take us about as long as it took to do the 70 per cent. We have up to October to complete the job. We were trying to move them in 10 months, but with these types of buildings you have changes. We are supposed to get the changes within seven days after it is requested, but that's taking a little while."

Mr McIntosh said the construction project had provided employment for 150-160 people. He added: "It depends on who the sub-contractors bring in on different days, but we usually do a count of between 150-160 persons. Right now we are down to the specialties. We are ready to paint, lay tiles and put in the ceiling."

The current 3,315 square foot airport terminal building, which will be demolished, is being replaced with a single storey terminal immediately west of the existing facility.

Donald Dean, principal of Architects Incorporated, who designed the terminal building, said: "When we first designed the new airport we wanted it to be consistent with the feel of Abaco.

"The new building is in excess of 51,000 square feet. We have 100 per cent more check-in space, departure lounge, restaurants, airport offices CCTV and everything consistent with a modern airport."

The new terminal building is needed to accommodate projected traffic growth for the next 15 years, with Abaco being the fastest growing Family Island in the Bahamas.