The long-anticipated rehabilitation of the runway at Hewanorra International Airport is advancing into a critical stage, as officials outlined the scope of works and project timeline during a bidders’ conference held at the airport’s VIP Lounge on Wednesday, March 18.
The upgrade, being undertaken through the Caribbean Air Transport Connectivity Project, is aimed at addressing longstanding infrastructure challenges while enhancing safety, resilience, and operational efficiency at the island’s primary gateway.
Senior Manager for Airports at Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority, Amy Charles, reflected on the project’s origins, noting that discussions date back several years.
“I go back to 2019, April 29, when we were told the World Bank would like to meet with the airports team,” she said. “We sat down and started talking about what was going to turn out to be the project. We went through COVID and other changes, and we are here today with the biggest part of the project.”
Project Manager at the Caribbean Air Transport Connectivity Project (CATCOP), Kendell Peter, explained that the initiative is being financed by the World Bank and has now reached the procurement stage.
“This is a World Bank-financed project,” he said. “We have gone through a significant period of design and review and now we have issued an invitation to bidders to provide their submissions.”
Peter added that the conference was intended to ensure clarity and transparency for all interested contractors.
“We are here to clarify any expectations that we have as the employer and any conditions from the bidding documents, and also to give prospective bidders an opportunity to ask questions,” he noted.
Technical enhancements to the runway will form a major component of the works, according to Jesper Sundahl of the Danish consulting firm Ramboll.
“There will be a full upgrade and renewal of the airfield lighting system, moving from halogen to a more modern and cost-efficient LED system,” Sundahl explained.
He also highlighted improvements to drainage infrastructure as a key priority.
“The main component is improving all the drainage systems of the airfield, ensuring water is properly collected and discharged, and that we have a resilient and operationally safe runway once the project is completed,” he said.
The runway rehabilitation is expected to significantly improve the airport’s ability to accommodate increasing air traffic while meeting modern aviation safety standards, marking a major milestone in the development of Saint Lucia’s aviation sector.