Runway choices

By Joel de Woolfson

PROPOSALS for work on the runway will be submitted to the States by the end of the year, Public Services has said.

Chief officer Adrian Lewis said the department was working on a report that would detail what work was needed to bring it up to scratch.

Questions had been raised about how the department had arrived at its £50m.-plus estimate for the work. Mr Lewis said the costings had come from its UK consulting engineers, who had considerable experience in aviation projects.

‘Their estimates also reflect an allowance for local factors, following discussions with a locally-based quantity surveyor practice and a company involved in a similar island-based aviation civil engineering project,’ he said.

‘However, the final cost will depend on a number of factors, including what the States decide to do, how material costs change, negotiations with the contractors, and any additional requirements such as road realignments, landscaping and land acquisition.

‘A lot of detailed survey work has also been necessary to assess the full scope of the repairs to the runway and other improvements before the project can go out to tender.

‘This has been under way for some months, and is ongoing, and we expect to be able to bring a report to the States outlining detailed proposals before the end of the year.

‘Advertisements for expressions of interest from potential contractors will then be issued and will be open for any companies to respond to.

‘The criteria for scoring expressions of interest will certainly look for a contractor with relevant experience in working on airfields.’