Saba Airport renovation well underway to be completed by October 8th
ZION’S HILL, SABA — Saba Airport renovation and runway resurfacing is well underway to be completed by the scheduled date of October 8th, 2018. StMaartenNews.com visited Saba on Thursday, September 20th, on the 7:45am ferry service executed by Great Bay Ferry with the Pride of St. Barths.
In August 2018 StMaartenNews.com published a special report about the planned Saba airport closure for runway renovations, a closure that would be offset by new ferry services with special fares and convenient daily ferry schedules to facilitate easy travel between Saba and St. Maarten.
The renovation of the runway was intentionally scheduled between September 10th and October 9th as this is the lowest travel season for the island. This in order to minimize the economic impact to the island. As this is also the peak of the hurricane season, precautions had to be made to minimize the risk of hurricane damage to the airport construction site and to ensure accessibility for helicopters at all times in the event of emergencies.
According to the Director of the Saba Tourist Office, Glenn Holm, the specially placed helipad for helicopters has proven its need. “We have had quite a few medical emergencies since the airport closed, including a young motorcycle rider who crashed his bike and suffered a skull fracture.” Holm told StMaartenNews.com during a tour of the airport construction site. The patient is currently in Colombia undergoing medical treatment and is reported to be in critical condition.
Saba island is presently experiencing a construction boom. Construction companies, including Windward Roads’ subsidiary Saba Roads, are not able to keep up with the demand. Construction workers are also in great demand. Apparently, many of the island’s hotel rooms have been completely booked out by construction companies for their workers. Fortunately, a new 26-room hotel is slated to be built soon. This will also make hosting large groups of visitors at one location much easier for the island’s carrying capacity.
Also newly constructed is the first solar park of the Saba Electric Company N.V. (SEC) right next to the Saba Airport, as can be seen the photo below. This solar park became operational in February this year and presently provides 30 percent of the island’s electricity needs. Saba Electric Company intends to realize a second solar park combined with a battery storage system to pursue its goal of achieving sustainability and reduce the island’s carbon footprint. Residents have yet to see the effects of this in their electricity bills, but according to the electric company the second solar park is expected to generate an additional 20 percent of the electricity needs of the island. At this rate, half of the island’s power supply will be generated by the solar parks.
StMaartenNews.com will be bringing you more news about Saba’s recent developments.
Photo caption: The Saba Airport under construction as can be seen above from Hell’s Gate with a view of the Saba Electric Company (SEC) N.V.’s first solar park next to the airport. Photos by Terrance Rey.
