RDA finalising documents for West End Ferry Terminal project
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) is advancing towards the next phase of the West End Ferry Terminal project, a key infrastructural initiative to enhance the territory’s port facilities.
Recently, RDA officials engaged with residents of the First District to discuss the project’s progress, highlighting the agency’s commitment to transparency and community involvement.
Shaina Smith-Archer, the newly appointed Director of Programme Delivery, and Sergio Dantas, the Project Manager and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Contract Supervisor, led the discussions. The RDA revealed that nine bids were received for the terminal’s construction, with four contenders advancing to the next stage. The shortlisted entities include both local and international firms, demonstrating a blend of domestic and global interest in the project.
The agency said it is now finalising tender documents, which are scheduled to be issued this month, with a 12-14 week tendering and evaluation period to follow. The agency added that the project’s construction phase, expected to last between 24 to 30 months, will not disrupt current port operations. To ensure continuity, a temporary facility will be set up at the future barge ramp site.
Initially expected to be completed by late 2023, the new terminal faced some delays, prompting scrutiny and mixed reactions from the public. Critics argued that the project’s scale may not match the district’s actual needs, suggesting that a simpler structure would suffice for the West End’s ferry and yachting activities. Additionally, there are concerns about the project’s cost and the potential for budget overruns.
Despite these concerns, the RDA remains confident that the new terminal will bring significant economic benefits, enhancing the territory’s appeal to tourists and improving local transportation infrastructure. The design, described as “organic and futuristic,” aims to provide visitors a modern and efficient gateway.
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Bla bla bla, every year they come and tell you the exact same s**t.
Another completely inappropriate design that won’t get built because it’s too expensive. We need a Caribbean solution to a Caribbean problem. Not a Saudi Arabian suburban shopping mall.
My 5 year old can come up with something better than this. They are also making the same mistake as the last lot by hugely misrepresenting the amount of land between the hill and the water. It ain’t anything like as big and there will be no room for parking.
Aims to provide visitors with a modern and efficient gateway to a single lane road to town.
You obviously go to town through carrot Bay because the road to town from WE has two lanes, not one.
You can only travel in one direction at a time, either heading east or west. Just a matter of perspective.
It’s nothing to do with perspective. It’s simple math.
What do you call a single lane road? A no- lane highway?
This is a very low priority project.
The landscape around Sopers hasn’t looked like that since the 1940s. More delusion from foreign designers.
Use our guys. They know what they doing . I expect they’re too smart to deal with government though.
You must not let reality get in the way of a big pie and and lots of fingers.
shaina always manages to fail upwards
We can extend the runway build a ferry terminal but we can’t fix the roads, keep water running and can’t fix the garbage. Spend millions on parties and travel but can’t fix what needs to be fixed.
can’t keep electricity on either this place is 4th world
“Some delays”? Hurricane Irma was 7 years ago now, and they haven’t even started yet.
Needs to be half the size. Also a big part of this ferry is servicing people flying in and out of St. Thomas. What happens if the Beef Island airport us expanded. Don’t need it anymore?
I hear that only one ferry is using West End – only ppl there are customs and immigration! $64m will better be spent at the airport!
This Nazi styled monstrosity has no place in our country or the Caribbean.
Stop it now and build something that is ours, not some copy of Teutonic master racism.
This latest rendition is even worse than the first impression. They have added some dark panels to attract the suns heat. You cannot believe the incompetence.
I HOPE WHEN THE BUILDING IS COMPLETED THEY NAME EARL AND LETTIE HUB LOL
This wasn’t the design people wanted.
What the people want. (Wanted about 5 years ago.) Is a ferry port with a regular timetqble thay runs into the evening. What the legislators want is an oppoertunity to fill their boots. Guess we are getting the latter.
Call me ignorant but isnt that a series of freemason symbols? Now that you mention it
british virgin islanders we do not trouble or interfere with any airport here in the usa with any boxes suitcase and bags
What is the basis of RDA’s confidence? BVIs does not have a record of success in public works projects in regards to getting them finished right, on tine and within budget. Are there enforceable liquid dated damages clauses and perormannce bods in the proposed contract? What the budget for this project anyway? Who are the four finalists?
Design appears to cater to champagne tastes when we have a beer budget, and no clarity as what we want it to be (i.e. another but more efficient entry point, or an international entry point to attract more tourists-check buzzvi comments above). The rendering suggests a shortage of parking (about 40 spaces). Important if terminal is to be used for day trips to St. Thomas.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and take the time to examine our true needs.
We should ask ourselves whether we still need a large ferrry terminal at West End? It seems to me that most people would prefer to leave and arrive in Road Town, thus a new, larger terminal should be built in the capital. West End needs a new terminal, but it could be focused to cater mostly to day trippers from the USVI and the Jost Van Dyke ferries. The expansion of the Beef Island airport with more frequent and presumably cheaper flights will also siphon traffic from West End.
A new ferry terminal in Road Town could be built on the reclaimed land in front of the Central Administration Building. It would be within easy and safe walking to the cruise ship dock for day excursions. The existing terminal could be repurposed as a visitors center, or perhaps even used as offices for the City Manager and other town administration purposes.
Look across the water on the other side of Sopers, this is what the exterior design should look like!
This looks to be about 5 times as large as the corresponding terminal in STT
Should probably give CSC a couple of high dollar consultancies. Jah knows he can’t make pizza.
this go on in front of everyone
million + spent
parties
and rotten roads
? this aint leadership