Press Release – Friday, April 13, 2018 – The Belize Airports Authority wishes to take this opportunity to update the general public that works on the Caye Caulker Municipal Airstrip project are well underway with the rehabilitation and widening of the runway. The works include the installation of a new runway lighting system that will allow for night-time landing capabilities.
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 geo-grid 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 under way on our airport and we are certainly looking forward to its completion. It is such 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.
Excavation of the airstrip shoulder
Thousands of georid material to ensure stability of the ground
Testing densityof the ground to ensure earth stability
Security measures taken to protect public from danger in the construction area
Over 10,000 cu ft of filling material to be spread this coming week
