Groundbreaking for West End terminal likely this year
The government may soon move to break ground on the long awaited West End Ferry Terminal project and officially begin the journey of rebuilding the structure damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria nearly six years ago.
This is according to First District Representative, Dr Karl Dawson, who told hosts on the Talking Points radio show that the West End terminal, which once served as one of the territory’s busiest ports, is critically importance.
Dr Dawson explained that a move to begin the project could begin as early as the last quarter of this year or by the first quarter of next year.
The First District Representative said the current edifice and the level of services that are in place have not been “reflective of the quality of stay” available in the territory and what visitors have become accustomed to over the years.
“You can see why we need to move with some haste and alacrity to really remedy that situation,” Dr Dawson commented. “Quite a number of persons who would travel to the Virgin Islands would come to West End and leave from West End. So it was clearly an important port of entry.”
Dr Dawson further expressed that the West End Ferry Terminal project presents an opportunity to create something that starts off a vacation the right way for visitors.
“So obviously, of course, it’s going to start with the physical facility, but the services, the level of circulation, the ease of facilitating the movement of persons and luggage and so on will be important to determine whether or not it’s a successful building,” he added.
The Recovery & Development Agency (RDA) announced a winning design for the ferry terminal project after putting three options to a vote last year. The the Classic Modern design emerged the winner following a tie with the first proposed organic, futuristic design.
Previously, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said there is approximately $12 million available through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to fund the project. However, the final cost of the project has not yet been made clear.
The RDA is expected to manage the design and construction of the new, expanded terminal in partnership with key stakeholders such as the BVI Ports Authority, Immigration, Police, Customs, Tourist Board, Health, as well as ferry operators and taxi drivers.
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We will name it after Andrew
Wow, what a lovely drug warehouse !
What’s the price tag?
Cancel the eye sore!
All I see in this photo is hurricane food
I wonder if it have an upstairs restaurant overlooking the water?
Hideous.
Has no connection to BVI or the Caribbean. Looks more like 1960 s
Police HQ in Russia.
Another huge waste of taxpayer money by our useless politicians.
No doubt the kickbacks are considerable.
Why is this building on the sea? I do not trust this.
What is the budget and what is the actual cost. Because in the BVI something is usually budgeted for $33 million and end up costing $88 million. The Premier said we have 12 million available so we spending $48 million right?
They will spoil a beautiful Harbour, one of the prettiest in the Caribbean. This is an architectural eyesore, whomever designed it should made to go back to school. Build it east of Frenchman’s Cay, somewhere that can handle more traffic flow. The tourist fatalities will pile up as the safari buses try and turn around.
Can someone explain to me why they want to ruin West End with a huge terminal without any parking availability, when the bulk of the population lives East or in Roadtown, as well as the major bareboat companies? Isn’t Roadtown the capital of the BVI? I do not get it!
I sick of this bull why would u build such a big building in west end when road town handle 3-4 times more passengers than weat end.Build a building but not so big.
Why this looks like they move the airport to West End. This is the airport design. Why does this have to be so big, this is in a small area with a small harbor. It doesn’t need such a big building as this. Something simple, nicely designed and fitting to the area would suffice. What’s with all these elaborate designs, in a small territory. I think they should make WE smaller like in town and make town bigger. This is stupid IMO.
A colossal waste