News You Can Use, from St. Barth's

[bravedave]

http://www.st-barths.com/descriptivepgs ... mment.html


February 20, 2004 - #16


St. Barth's Airport to Be Closed from September 6 through October 15, 2004


For the past few months we have known about this project, but decided to wait until Michel Magras, deputy mayor and departmental representative, made an official announcement to share the news with you.

That is, the runway at the airport needs to be completely re-paved. Over the past few years, the areas in the worst condition have been repaired, but these repairs little by little are not sufficient. In a report dates February 2002, the regional French civil aviation authorities concluded that the degradation of the runway, including the parts that had been repaired, required serious attention in order to continue to insure the transport of passengers in the safest possible conditions.

The project will require that all airport traffic come to a halt. The local officials decided to chose the quietest time of the year, in terms of flights and passengers, to do the work which will be done 24/7 and everyone involved will do their best to reduce the time the airport is closed to no more than six weeks.

A new layer of concrete will be poured over the existing surface that measures 650 meters long (2130 feet). The runway will also be widened on each side, increasing its width from 15 to 18 meters (from 50 to 60 feet). A lighting system will be installed to allow emergency medical evacuations to take place at night safely. On the top of the hill at La Tourmente, a retaining wall with a security fence will be erected, and a second security fence, similar to the one put along the main road last year, will be installed along the rental car parking lot. Finally, the installation of wind socks and wind gauges will be reinforced, and an emergency system including a generator will allow the lights and the airport itself to function in case of a power outage.

While the runway is being repaired, people will be obliged to come or go by boat. Existing ferry services are looking into more roundtrips per day, enabling passengers will be able to connect to their international flights at Juliana Airport. For emergency medical evacuations, a helicopter will remain at the airport, although it is not known if it will be private or military.

After an initial reaction of surprise, many residents accept this news with a smile. To not be inconvenienced by the closing of the airport, it is possible to organize trips, and even if it is necessary to leave the island, one can take a fast private motor boat, or one of the regular daily ferry lines.

Just think how nice it will be to not hear the noise of airplane engines for six weeks, taking some Saint-Barth residents back in time to the quiet days of the 1970s before the island’s economic development and tourism boom. For others, it will mean a new way to discover the island.


More to come

Cécile Lucot

[Godsowndrunk]

we wont be leaving till after thanksgiving.....so the timing is just right....

St.Barts here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

G.O.D

[citcat]

So it's either helicopter or teleporter or biga$$ yacht?

[chalksoperations]

I've heard about this coming up for a while too. It's been needed for quite a while too. On the same note, last week the runway expansion at Beef Island was completed, making a bit easier on those days when we get squirelly winds coming around the hills.

[phjrsaunt]

Dang! There goes my trip to St. Bart's!

[bravedave]

I've heard about this coming up for a while too. It's been needed for quite a while too. On the same note, last week the runway expansion at Beef Island was completed, making a bit easier on those days when we get squirelly winds coming around the hills.

Thanks for the update, Chalks. Good news is good news.

[SmartWomaninShortSkirt]

So it's either helicopter or teleporter or biga$$ yacht?

Don't forget sea plane!

My preference would be the biga$$ yacht.

[bravedave]

September 20, 2004
The Work at the Airport Advances on Schedule

In spite a 36-hour work stoppage caused by two days of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 14 and 15, the rebuilding of the runway at the airport is advanced according to the original timeline. Two strips of white vinyl creating a cross on the ground indicate from above that the airport is closed and that all air traffic has been prohibited since September 6. The pouring of four strips of concrete 650 meters long by 4.5 meters wide was completed on the evening of Sunday, September 19. The length of the new runway is identical to the old one, but the width has been increased by 1.5 meters on each side, increasing the surface from 15 to 18 meters. The new runway is 20 cm thick and made of reinforced concrete. It is built on the old runway that now serves as a lower layer. Since this is the case, the sections that were badly damaged were repaired before the new layer of concrete was poured.

[...]

The completion of the concrete work is scheduled for September 22. Next comes the joints, the luminous beacons, and the markings on the runway and the parking areas. A supplemental link will be created to facilitate access to the parking area for planes that have landed. The entire project, funded 50% by Europe and 50% by the municipality, is estimated at a cost of 3,450,000 euros.

For access to and from the island, ferry service has been increased with additional round trips daily. And even though there are certain days when the vibrations from the giant machines can be felt as far away as Lurin, the absence of all air traffic and the noise usually coming from the sky has given the local population a moment of peace and quiet. The airport reopens on October 15.

[phjrsaunt]

Vibrations from giant machines......hmmmmm