Two Bids Submitted for Airport Expansion
The government has received two bids for the first phase of the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport expansion project. Officials confirmed that an evaluation team is currently reviewing the submissions for the planned 787-foot runway extension on Beef Island.
The government has officially received two bids for the first phase of the long-anticipated Terrance B Lettsome International Airport expansion project on Beef Island. Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer announced the development, confirming that the tender opening took place following the close of submissions.
An evaluation committee has now been tasked with reviewing the proposals to determine if they meet the required technical and financial criteria. According to Minister Rymer, the initial phase of the major capital project entails a 787-foot extension at the western end of the existing runway.
While the minister did not disclose the identities of the bidding entities or the financial value of their respective submissions, he indicated that further details would be shared with the public once the formal assessment process is concluded. The procurement process began in May when the BVI Airports Authority invited qualified contractors and joint ventures to submit bids for the western runway extension.
The comprehensive contract is designed to cover the full scope of works, including detailed design, construction, testing, commissioning, and the rectification of any defects. The broader expansion of the territory's main international gateway has remained a major talking point in the Virgin Islands for years, particularly regarding its financing and statutory borrowing limits.
The government has been in ongoing discussions with the United Kingdom over the project's business case and the approvals necessary to undertake sovereign borrowing without breaching established fiscal ratios. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley previously noted that the United Kingdom was assessing the business case, explaining that the funding requirements would exceed the territory's debt parameters without special UK approval.
The government has reiterated its commitment to balancing major infrastructure investments across the territory while advancing critical upgrades to enhance air connectivity and support the local economy.
Primary source: BVI News