V.I. Port Authority is Currently Spending Over $75 Million on Projects

The Virgin Islands Port Authority currently has several active projects occurring throughout the territory and some that are at a standstill due to financial and design issues.

“You don’t see the little, little ones, but we have well over $75 million of projects currently being worked on,” said the Port Authority Executive Director Carlton Dowe at a meeting of the agency’s board on Wednesday. “Of those projects, the majority of that $75 million is in St. Croix.”

The Port Authority has nine active projects on St. Croix and five projects on hold. In the St. Thomas-St. John district, there are 10 active projects, and of those 10, three are close to being completed.

On St. Thomas, three aviation projects are underway, officials reported. They are the Gate 5 apron reconstruction, the Cyril E. King Airport Parking Garage and Transportation Center, and charging stations projects at the airport. The apron reconstruction project got off to a slightly late start, but will be completed in January of 2022, officials said.

The airport parking garage is 30 percent completed, according to Dale Gregory. Gregory is the acting director of Engineering for the Port Authority. The beams and columns are being constructed for the second floor of the parking garage and the force main pipes have been laid. In addition, gate four at the Cyril E. King Airport has recently been installed with charging stations.

“On the marine side, we still have a hold on the Customs building at Red Hook. The Sandfill Administrative Building has been completed, and the St. John ferry dock modification is pending the blessing of the Historic Preservation Committee,” said Gregory.