Caye Caulker residents concerned on the delay of works at the island’s airstrip

The management at the Belize Airport Authority overseeing the rehabilitation of the airport’s runway informed The San Pedro Sun that the project is ongoing and that they expect to complete the works by mid-June of this year. A visit to the closed airstrip revealed that no construction work has been done on the airstrip and its surroundings. A series of deep holes were observed on the surface of the runway, while on its east end, piles of building material had been unloaded. According to the General Manager of BAA, Nicholas Ruiz, the process for the airport’s refurbishment is an ongoing one and that even though people might think that nothing is happening, work is actually being done. “Most of the building material is being barged to the island from the mainland,” said Ruiz. “There is a process and work is taking place.” Ruiz indicated that he and his team will do a site inspection to find out more about the progress of the project.

Caye Caulker residents believe that the project is moving slow and the fact that they are struggling without an airport during the high tourism season is causing a dent to their businesses. A few concerned residents say that this tourism season is less profitable than previous ones since the tourism clientele has changed. They expressed their disappointment with the airstrip’s renovations and many believe that officials have not made it a priority to have the airport up and running as soon as possible. The Chairwoman of the Caye Caulker Village Council Enelda Rosado said that they have been in touch with the BAA and will be making site inspections as well to monitor the progress of the works at the airport. Rosado acknowledges that some tourism stakeholders on the island are struggling with the issue and the situation of not having an airport is affecting everyone in one way or another.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun

Caye Caulker Air Strip Construction Feb 28 - March 4

From Brad Flood....

There has been some construction activity on the CC Air Strip Construction project this past week. I took a series of photos on Wednesday and when I went back on Thursday, there had been even more progress.

On Monday, February 26 I rode my bike down the air strip and noticed they had laid dredging pipe and a pumping station out in the bay just off the western end of the air strip.

On Wednesday, February 28, I rode the golf cart down the air strip and these photos are what had occurred between Monday & then.

I spoke to one of the workers today and mentioned I was surprised they were working on Sunday. His comment to me was that they would be working 7-days a week with the hopes to have it completed in four months, which would put completion at the end of June. He did say they would take Easter off.


Runway to West


Side of Runway to West


End of Runway to West


Loading Area End of Runway to West


Equipment at Loading Area End of Runway West


Equipment Area and Dredging Rig West of End of Runway

Here are the videos from Friday, March 2. Quite different than just two day prior!

Caye Caulker Air Strip Construction Friday March 2


Caye Caulker Air Strip Construction East to West


Caye Caulker Air Strip Construction West to East

Here are the videos from today, Sunday, March 4

Caye Caulker Air Strip Construction Sunday March 4

From Brad Flood...

Here are 5 photos I took today at the air strip along with explanations of each photo and updates on the project.:


Photo #1 - Equipment (steamroller) and materials being stockpiled at the Eastern End of the Air Strip (by the Terminal)


Photo #2 - There is a large, shallow hole that has been dug on the southern shoulder of the Air Strip about 1/4 of the way heading east to West. Not sure what it is for, but it wasn't there yesterday.


Photo #3 - Moving The Dredging Pipe Looking East - Today, they are moving the long dredging pipe down the Air Strip and will dig another "receiving pit" (big hole) about 75 yards West of where they pumped the sand the past couple days. Once they have moved the pipe and dug the "receiving pit" they will again dredge sand from the bay off the Western end of the Air Strip and pile it up on the Air Strip to be used once the construction begins


Photo #4 - Moving The Dredging Pipe, Looking West.

There is a section of this dredging pipe that is one solid piece of pipe, about 1.5' - 2' in diameter, that runs about 100 - 125 yards long. They do have some shorter pieces coupled to make it long enough to go from out in the bay to mid-way up the Air Strip. It's quite impressive to see and watch as they maneuver it into place.


Photo #5 - Well, one of the big backhoes blew out a tread this morning...talk about a major "flat"!!! The construction Supervisor said it would take the better part of today to get it repaired (have to bring parts in from the mainland).

I asked the "Construction Manager" today about when he thought the Air Strip would not be usable for folks from Eden Isle to access their neighborhood via the Air Strip (which is MUCH better, faster, easier than traveling the "road" just North of the Air Strip). He indicated that they will attempt to keep access available as long as possible. They even stopped the work with the one shovels moving the dredging pipe to allow me to get past them and access the Western end of the Air Strip. Good News for Eden Isle residents...if it is true!

Any further updates on how this is coming along?

On-going works at the Caye Caulker Airstrip Reconstruction Project are as follows:

- Installation of geogrid for ground stabilization
- Filing with approve material/subbase
- Field testing (compaction)

Belize Airports Authority

Wonderful pictures and useful information.

CAYE CAULKER MUNICIPAL AIRSTRIP PROJECT MOVING BRISKLY FORWARD

The Belize Airports Authority (BAA), the local body responsible for the security, maintenance and expansion of municipal and international airports in Belize, is pleased to report that the renovation of the Caye Caulker Municipal Airport has picked up momentum and is moving briskly to meet its completion date by mid-June of this year.

Substantial work has already been done to the airstrip with the focus being the expansion of the runway’s shoulders and the laying of thousands of yards of geogrid to provide greater earth

stability. Over 10,000 cubic yards of filling in material has also been amassed in the area. Greater work is expected in the coming weeks, speeding up the project even further. Following work on the airstrip shoulders will be the actual preparation of the runway for the installation of hot mix.

“Construction is presently underway on our airport and we are certainly looking forward to its completion. It is much needed and will be beneficial for everyone especially for emergency

purposes and will also help to boost up our tourism industry,” said Enelda Rosado, Chairlady of the Caye Caye Village Council, who herself visited the project recently with representatives of the BAA.

“This project is extremely important because Caye Caulker is the second most visited destination in the country by international tourists. Caye Caulker has tremendous tourism potential and there is great development occurring on the island already. Therefore, this new state of the art municipal airport will be able to accommodate our tourists on time, in a safe and beautiful environment,” said Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Area Representative for Caye Caulker.

The project is being partially financed by the BAA through a loan and will result in a state of the art municipal airport for the village of Caye Caulker.

Other works will include the enhancement, marking and installation of runway lights to allow for airplane landings at night as well as other security and safety features.

In 2016, the Belize Airports Authority engaged consultants to conduct feasibility studies for the repairs of the municipal airport in Caye Caulker. Based on the results of the study, the BAA

subsequently took the decision to reconstruct the facility in line with the long-term vision of the Authority.

The BAA has been working with air operators and other stakeholders, inclusive of the Belize Department of Civil Aviation and the Department of the Environment, to sensitize all the parties concerned about the scope of the project. In addition, meetings with the Caye Caulker Village Council are held regularly to keep them abreast on the progress of the project.

Municipal airstrip is closed to repair faulty work done by the same contractor doing the CC airstrip, relative of UDP Gaspar Vega, whose family are wanted for payment of stolen land. Good luck.

Caye Caulker Airstrip Renovations Underway

The Caye Caulker airstrip has been closed since late last year, and probably won't re-open until the second half of this year. The Belize Airports Authority today sent out a release saying that the renovation of the has, quote, "picked up momentum and is moving briskly to meet its completion date by mid-June of this year."

We asked the general manager for details:...

Nick Ruiz - GM, BAA
"What precipitated the close down was undulations that were forming on the runway and when it was built in 2005 - 2006, we now know that the base was not fully addressed and so you may have come and done some cosmetic work at the top you could say but it wouldn't address the problem that is really at the bottom of it all. So, this time around in Caye Caulker we have determine to go and fix the problem which is underneath the runway, digging up and filling back up and put good material and put the hot mix that you will see Jules when you go there for the inauguration. The works are moving very briskly. We would want to wrap up by the end of May, but to be sure mid-June is where we see the project coming to an end. It's a very modern, it's wider and at nigh time landing capabilities, markings have been done. Everything that you could say is an improvement, we have put it in place."

Reporter
"We know that the airlines are hemorrhaging earnings, unrealized earnings because they no longer offer that flight."

Nick Ruiz - GM, BAA
"We want to get it back open so that they can conduct business but we have had frank discussions with them and we know that to get this work done we will have to make some sacrifices in terms of revenues, loss and what not."

Caye Caulker is the second most visited destination in Belize.

The project is being partially financed by the BAA through a Social Security loan.

Channel 7