Contract signed for architectural design of Marsh Harbour Airport Terminal

The Hon. Neko Grant, (third from left) is pictured during a signing ceremony on July 30 for the architectural design of the Marsh Harbour Airport terminal and fire crash facility. (BIS photo/Kristaan Ingraham)

Abaco, The Bahamas – Public Works and Transport Minister the Hon. Neko C. Grant signed a $600,000 contract with the Architects Incorporated Company for the architectural design of the Marsh Harbour Airport terminal building and fire/crash facility.  The current 3,315 square feet building will be replaced with a new 24,000 square feet single storey terminal and fire crash facility immediately west of the existing terminal.

The signing ceremony took place at the District Education Office in Marsh Harbour on July 30. Government officials in attendance were the Hon. Edison Key, MP for South Abaco; Colin Higgs, permanent secretary; John Canton, director; Caldwell Pratt, deputy director; Livingston Forbes, chief architect; and Robert Garraway, civil engineer. Also in attendance was Theophilus Cox, administrator for North Abaco; Cubell Davis, chief counsellor; Whelma Colebrook, first assistant secretary and Lenora Black, district education officer. Mr. Grant said, “The design will provide visitors with a ‘sense of place’ incorporating elements that reflect our country and its culture and it will allow for future expansion on all sides (east, west, north and south) of the building.”

The modern, state-of the-art facility will have the capacity to serve the 200,000 passengers who utilise the airport annually.   The design will also include among other amenities: taxi call-up and public parking areas; fire/crash rescue facility; free standing airport control tower; police, security and airport manager’s offices; concessions stands, combined domestic and international passenger departure lounge.  Minister Grant thanked the technical staff of the Ministry of Public Works for their efforts and said his ministry looks forward to the “successful” completion of the project within the allotted time. 

Mr. Davis said he is “excited” about this project because it is the beginning of something good for Abaconians.   Mr. Key described the signing as an “historic” time and a happy occasion for the residents who have been patiently waiting for this moment.  He said it is anticipated that the new facility will spark the beginning of greater things for Marsh Harbour.   The project comes on the heels of the completion of the upgrade of airside operations at Marsh Harbour Airport. The earlier works comprised the construction of a new 6,100 feet jet runway, conversion of the original runway into a jet taxi-way and installation of new signage and lighting.

By Kathryn Campbell Bahamas Information Services