Airport Development
Runway scheme faces delay
As Printed in Isle of Man Examiner 20th Feb 2008
PROPOSALS for the £41m scheme to construct a runway into the sea from Ronaldsway airport have suffered a blow.
Transport Minister David Anderson was due to seek permission to spend £41m on the scheme in Tynwald today.
But, withdrawing the motion, he told members: 'We have now been advised by the contractor that the barges necessary to transport the rock armour to the Island are likely to be unavailable during the weather window which we have to carry out the work this year.
'This is because the rock armour supply contractor is involved in a major project at Great Yarmouth, which is taking longer than anticipated due to unforeseeable ground conditions warranting the supply of substantial quantities of additional rock, and he has therefore to remain there to honour that particular contract.
'The department as yet has no formal contract for this scheme as it could not enter into one prior to Tynwald approval for the project. In the meantime we have been able to establish that there are no alternative barges available to transport rock of this size.'
He said he did not want to put forward the motion until there was a confirmed timetable for the promontory part of the project, which he said should be be able to start next spring.
'However, a substantial part of the project – resurfacing and refurbishing the runway – will be able to proceed as scheduled this summer,' said Mr Anderson.
He said the overall effect would be a delay beyond the initial completion ddate of September next year, but still within the deadline to meet requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, expected to be some time in 2010.