PORT MORESBY, 25 FEBRUARY 2019 (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Airports Vanuatu Ltd (AVL) has announced the US$47.7 million rehabilitation and upgrade of Vanuatu’s Bauerfield International Airport is on target for a late June 2019 completion.
The bulk of the work will be completed by the end of March 2019, with additional services completed by the end of June 2019.
AVL and The Vanuatu Project Management Unit is undertaking the project in partnership with the World Bank’s Pacific Aviation Investment Program, Airport Consultancy Group and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
The top 100mm of the aged existing asphalt along the entire 2.6km length of the runway has been removed and replaced with new asphaltic concrete pavement. The works are now building on top of that rehabilitated pavement with an increased thickness of asphaltic concrete to increase the Pavement Classification Number to allow for larger aircraft operations.
Works currently underway include installation of 7.5m wide asphaltic concrete shoulders along the full length of the runway to meet improved safety outcomes and compliance for larger aircraft, and improved drainage to boost pavement resilience during heavy rain. The new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) compliant turning nodes at the runway ends are almost complete.
Other upgrades include a new high strength parking apron and a new lighting system to ICAO standards and navigation aids for improved safety and runway reliability for airlines.
Prime Minister Charlot Salwai inspected the site in January 2019 with the Minister for Infrastructure and Public Works Christophe Emelee and Minister for Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat to get an update on the works.
AVL Chief Executive Officer Jason Rakau said once completed, the Bauerfield International Airport would offer improved capacity and allow for the operation of larger aircraft.
“Bauerfield is vital to Vanuatu’s economy and we have worked hard to deliver an outcome that not only addresses today’s requirements but also the future for Vanuatu, its people and businesses and the clients the airport serves,” he said.
“Local contractors are working on this project in a number of supporting roles and it’s great to see local people employed on these large-scale projects, keeping money and highly skilled jobs in our community.”
Rakau said AVL had provided daily updates via its Facebook page to keep local stakeholders informed and worked closely with the airlines to address their concerns.
“Virgin inspectors have been attending regularly to inspect the runway condition and keep up to date on remediation works, while engineers from the Airport Consultancy Group who are overseeing the works have completed a full report and circulated this to the airlines.
“Most airlines have returned to normal services and we have seen a lot of growth in traffic numbers even while remediation and upgrade works have been underway.
“That’s good news for Vanuatu’s tourism sector, which has been affected by Cyclone Pam in 2015 and the international airline’s temporarily ceasing flights to Vanuatu in 2016.
“We’ve kept the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association informed of our progress, which included a presentation to the National Tourism Forum in December 2018 to clarify some misconceptions that had been circulating in the industry,” he said.
Rakau said Vanuatu’s reputation as a tourism destination was critical to its continued growth and the airport upgrades was integral to achieving this.
“AVL will continue to do everything we can to support Vanuatu’s improvement and connection to major international cities via air travel and that will be made even more secure with an upgraded airport.
“We look forward to this project being fully completed before the end of June this year,” he said.
