Source: Date: Updated: |
TheBahamasInvestor.com
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 Tuesday, October 15, 2013 |
The dual lane Airport Gateway, which links the Lynden Pindling International Airport with the Oakes Field area of Nassau, officially opened October 10 during a special ceremony at John F Kennedy Drive and Prospect Road.
Landscaping, installation of signage, display of public art and other minor work remain to be carried out on the project which is described as 99 per cent complete.
The carriageway includes a link for Windsor Field to Bethel Avenue via John F Kennedy, construction of nine new roundabouts, installation of electrical, telephone and cable services.
A contract/loan agreement signing ceremony took place in September 2010 and groundbreaking for the highway was held in March of 2011, funded with a loan from the China Export-Import Bank and the China Construction Company.
At the peak of production in October 2012, a total of 125 Bahamians were employed on the project.
Attending the event were cabinet ministers, members of parliament, senior government officials including permanent secretary Colin Higgs, director John Canton, and other officials.
Tiger Wu, executive vice-president of China Construction America Inc and other officials from the Chinese Embassy were also present.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Perry Christie said there is no doubt that in the future governments in The Bahamas will need public/private partnerships for which the private sector is used to make capital contributions to development.
Chinese ambassador to The Bahamas Hu Shan said the road demonstrates the country’s image and strength, and great importance has been attached to the project by both the Chinese and Bahamian governments.
The Airport Gateway would further boost the development of the country’s tourism industry as well as the prosperity of the economy and lead to continuous improvement of the living standards of Bahamians, the ambassador added.