MBJ AIR PORT REHAB

Published:Wednesday | June 28, 2017 | 12:00 AM Steven Jackson

S&G Road Surfacing Materials Limited, based in Mandeville, won a US$12 million contract to resurface the taxiway and supporting infrastructure at Sangster International Airport.

The rehabilitation works to last 10 months will not interrupt normal day-to-day operations at the airport, according to airport operator MBJ Airport Limited. Planes use taxiways to connect to runways.

S&G will be responsible for the removal and reconstruction of parts of the taxiway as well as the redesign, resurfacing and widening of other sections, in accordance to standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Project Commercial Director Marlon Symister said 150 direct jobs would be created by the project.

Maintenance Programme

The taxiway rehabilitation project forms part of a structured airport maintenance program being carried out in accordance with the terms of MBJ’s 30-year operating concession with the Government of Jamaica. MBJ has a US$40m budget for the five-year period ending 2020 to carry out maintenance and improvement works under the programme.

S&G Road Surfacing Materials emerged as the winning bidder for the project following a tender process that attracted several qualified construction firms. MBJ indicated that S&G submitted the most competitive bid and demonstrated its team’s “professionalism and experience” in executing projects of similar scope across Jamaica.

The construction company’s portfolio of completed projects includes roadways, roundabouts and related infrastructure for the likes of National Works Agency, Gore Development and China Harbour Engineering Corporation.

“Sangster International Airport is a critical national asset that must be continuously improved to ensure public safety and Jamaica’s competitiveness,” said MBJ Airports CEO Rafael Echevarne. “We are pleased to be working with S&G on this project and are confident in the company’s ability to exceed our expectations and complete the taxiway rehabilitation works to spec and on time.”

MBJ Airports is the Mexican-controlled concessionaire for Sangster Airport.

The airport, Jamaica’s largest, connects to 50 international destinations and handled a record 3.9 million travellers in 2016.