St Maarten — Passenger safety and traffic flow in and around Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) will be greatly improved in eight months’ time when the road in front of the terminal building is rerouted around the existing parking lot.
Airport President Eugene Holiday signed the construction agreement with MNO Vervat Managing Director Jeroen Grootenhuis for the US $1.9 million road project Tuesday with work expected to start in two weeks.
At the end of the construction, a roundabout will be built a short distance from Windward Islands Airways International Winair Headquarters that will allow airport-bound traffic to head to the terminal while all others will take the road along Simpson Bay Lagoon towards Maho/Beacon Hill.
The new arrangement will eliminate the pedestrian crossings that cut over the main road that is fingered as a major reason for traffic jams in and around the area especially at heavy flight times of the day.
With the road around the northern edge of the parking lot, the existing section of Airport Road now used to access the terminal as well as Maho/Beacon Hill will no longer be accessible from the Maho end. The new traffic situation will also create more parking spaces some of which will be designated for car rentals and for other airport essential vehicles thus clearing up the front of the terminal that is often lined with vehicles. The existing parking lot has 313 vehicle spaces; this will be upped to 415.
Holiday said the rerouting of the road is part of the overall airport master plan to improve service and keep Princess Juliana International Airport flying high as a hub in the northeastern Caribbean.
Aviation Affairs Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams said the project is very needed at present to improve the airport as well as to provide economic activity via infrastructural projects. She said that while residents and passengers can expect some inconvenience when the work is carried out, ultimately everyone will benefit.
Source : The Herald
