By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

THE $30 million project at the Marsh Harbour International Airport is still incomplete, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said yesterday.

Construction at the airport began in 2011 and was expected to be finished last year.

However, the Minister of Works and Urban Development told those attending the Abaco Business Outlook Conference that logistical problems have delayed the completion of the project, which includes the creation of a new terminal building.

“I am saddened,” he said, “by the turn of events on this extremely expensive and much anticipated project. My Ministry has been challenged to provide all the necessary approvals to the contractor for the construction of the airport buildings as there have been and continue to be concerns of a technical nature which do not permit the Ministry of Works and Urban Development to issue necessary approvals.”

“This is a most serious and vexing matter. I am not an engineer, nor do I pretend to be one; but I accept that there are extremely good reasons for, first, a thorough approval process to be followed by the issuance of approvals following any required adjustments and then the requisite follow-up through regular objective inspections and confirmation of building according to an approved plan.”

The project is expected to include the construction of an international terminal, an air traffic control tower, a fire/crash rescue facility, a new taxiway, a new 6,100 ft runway to the south of the existing runway, the erection of new directional signs and the installation of approach, runway and taxiway lights.

It is also expected to include major statutory utilities upgrades and connections, relocation of electrical services in the terminal building, airside land preparation and plant hydro seeding and the installation of fence to enclose the airport property for security purposes.

The project was launched in March 2007 when a contract was awarded to Bahamas Hot Mix to construct a new taxiway to resurface the existing runway.