Work being carried out on the fire sprinkler system in the former check-in area at PJIA.
AIRPORT--Site preparation works for the reconstruction project of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) terminal building have started and are expected to create employment for approximately sixty local workers.
“PJIAE’s [PJIA operating company’s – Ed.] main goal is to rebuild the airport of the future, to support St. Maarten’s long-term sustainable growth and, in the short term, create opportunities for local employment in the reconstruction industry and with it, the livelihoods of many families,” PJIAE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Mingo said in a press statement on Wednesday.
“I am therefore grateful to see that our new partner AAR International has already started the employment process for approximately 60 local workers to start the site preparation works.”
The airport announced its progress last month by the selection of the project supervisory and engineering firm for the Reconstruction Project of the Terminal Building, scheduled to begin in 2021. This month (November), PJIAE announced that the site preparation works will begin within a few weeks, around the middle of November.
PJIAE awarded AAR International a critical part of the site preparation works for the reconstruction to begin. These works include mould clean-up and remediation, surface decontamination, and waste disposal management for the non-operational areas of the Terminal Building.
AAR International, the United States-based company that won the tender, provided the best technical and financially acceptable proposal for the mould removal and waste disposal works. These site preparation works are part of the Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project, which consists of the preliminary work necessary to get the construction site ready for building and development.
The remediation and waste disposal work by AAR International will include the clean-up of the remainder of most of the non-operational areas, which is expected to be completed within 150 working days.
As the contracted company is set to mobilise to St. Maarten by November 13, the Project Management Unit at PJIAE is already busy with another pre-construction project, which involves the reinstatement of the fire sprinkler system. The sprinkler system is the airport’s first line of defence in the event of a fire during the reconstruction period.
The renovation project of the terminal, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017, is in full motion and will include major upgrades such as the full automation of Border Control, additional escalators at all gates for an improved passenger experience, upgraded and more efficient check-in counters, improved relocated car rental booths, and a strong focus on creating St. Maarten’s visual, cultural and environmental “sense of place” characteristics in the Terminal.
It includes the addition of retail and food-and-beverage spaces, offering more opportunities for authentic local products.
For updates on the live flight information or the winter flight schedule visit the airport’s website
www.sxmairport.com.
