Resurfacing of Runway at VC Bird International Airport to Commence before Year Ends

The resurfacing of the runway at VC Bird International Airport, which has been significantly delayed, is anticipated to commence before the year ends.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stated that the government has secured a $100 million loan through a group of banks led by CIBC Caribbean. A portion of the funds will be allocated for the expansion of the Barbuda runway.

Reliable sources have indicated that the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) is presently preparing the tender documents with the expectation that the project will soon be open for tendering.

These sources anticipate that the selection of a contractor to execute the work will be finalized by September, followed by mobilization and the actual resurfacing commencing in November.

It has been disclosed by the sources that the runway was last resurfaced in 2008. The internationally recommended standard stipulates that runways should be resurfaced every ten years.

Efforts to carry out the resurfacing were underway in 2018-19, but encountered delays, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further impeded progress on the project.

Earlier this year, emergency repairs were necessitated on the runway due to the erosion of asphalt caused by the landings of a 777 aircraft. This required the temporary closure of the airport and immediate remedial action.

The length of the VCBIA runway is approximately 3,038 meters, which is just over 9,000 feet.

As per the sources, the resurfacing will be conducted during the airport’s closure at night, and the project is expected to span approximately one year.