A delay in the signing of the construction contract for Anguilla’s runway extension has pushed its expected completion from the end of 2028 to early 2029.
The update comes two months after Canadian construction firm Aecon was issued an award letter for the Clayton J Lloyd International Airport expansion project.
The company, which partnered with Caribbean-based Kelly Construction on the newly opened airport terminal, was expected to sign the contract in early July and begin work by early September.
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However, in a government press conference on 7 September infrastructure minister Jose Vanterpool announced the contract signing has been “slightly delayed” and now expected by the end of the month.
“Mobilisation, therefore, as a consequence, will take place in October, with works on the expansion beginning in November,” he said.
“As a result, this has slightly pushed the project completion estimate back to early 2029, as opposed to the end of 2028.”
Public feedback sought
Meanwhile, the government is inviting Anguilla’s residents to comment on the extension of the 5,358 foot (1,633 metre) runway to 7,000ft (2,134m) to improve air connectivity.
The plans also include widening the existing runway, new airfield lighting, improvements to the taxiway system, extensions to safety areas around the runway and the relocation of Tanglewood Road.
In a social media post on 2 September, the government said it is seeking public feedback to help inform an environmental impact assessment being prepared for the proposed expansion.
Residents are being encouraged to raise any environmental, traffic or drainage concerns they believe could arise from the project.
The consultation is also intended to gather views on how the proposed expansion could generally affect residents, families, businesses, employment and the wider Anguillian community.
Comments can be submitted by email to eiarunwayfeedback@gov.ai until the end of September.
Airport Masterplan
The newly opened terminal and extended runway are part of a multi-million-dollar project as envisioned in the former government’s Airport Masterplan 2022-2041.
The plan explained that lengthening the runway was required for current commercial airlines to operate with maximum loads and to allow Anguilla to attract new operators with larger aircraft.
It also meant the island would meet regulatory compliance and reduce its dependence on St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport as a connecting hub.
According to the plan, the aim was to extend the runway to the east to 2,068.8m (6,789ft) – which equates to a 1,829m (6,000ft) take-off length – as well as widening it from 30m (98ft) to 45m (148ft).
This would allow it to accommodate the A220-300, EMB 175/190, A319 and similar aircraft up to about 120-seats, the plan said.
In the latest outline, the government describes the total length of the new runway as 7,000ft – 211ft longer than in the original plan.
