In spite a 36-hour work stoppage caused by two days of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 14 and 15, the rebuilding of the runway at the airport is advanced according to the original timeline. Two strips of white vinyl creating a cross on the ground indicate from above that the airport is closed and that all air traffic has been prohibited since September 6. The pouring of four strips of concrete 650 meters long by 4.5 meters wide was completed on the evening of Sunday, September 19. The length of the new runway is identical to the old one, but the width has been increased by 1.5 meters on each side, increasing the surface from 15 to 18 meters. The new runway is 20 cm thick and made of reinforced concrete. It is built on the old runway that now serves as a lower layer. Since this is the case, the sections that were badly damaged were repaired before the new layer of concrete was poured.
Thirty workers have been on the job seven days a week from 7:00am to 8:00pm since the project got underway in the beginning of July. Some of them work into the night in order to create the joints in the concrete that must be made as soon as it reaches a certain density, or six to eight hours after it was spread. On each section of concrete, the joints are made every 4.5 meters. The machine responsible for spreading the 3000 cubic meters of concrete needed for the runway was brought by barge from Guadeloupe and unloaded at the end of the runway by September 6. There are only two machines like this in France, the one that is currently in France that came by way of Pointe-a-Pitre where is was used for the renovation of an airplane parking area at the Raizet airport. This machine spreads the concrete at a rate of 30 to 33 meters per hour. It is equipped to vibrate, thus allowing the concrete to be correctly spread and tamped down, and there are sensors to make sure that the surface is perfectly even. Another machine of gigantic proportions is the cement mixer that arrived on August 21, also via a barge that anchored at the end of the runway.
In order to allow for the unloading and installation of this machinery, the airport was closed on the morning of August 21. This cement mixer produces 50 cubic meters per hour. Even if these two machines were too large to be brought by truck to the airport from the commercial port in Public, the building materials came by this traditional route. A total of 960 bags of concrete each weighing 1.5 tons were brought from Public and deposited along the runway alongside a mountain made of 4,200 tons of gravel and a smaller mountain with 2,600 tons of sand.
The completion of the concrete work is scheduled for September 22. Next comes the joints, the luminous beacons, and the markings on the runway and the parking areas. A supplemental link will be created to facilitate access to the parking area for planes that have landed. The entire project, funded 50% by Europe and 50% by the municipality, is estimated at a cost of 3,450,000 euros.
For access to and from the island, ferry service has been increased with additional round trips daily. And even though there are certain days when the vibrations from the giant machines can be felt as far away as Lurin, the absence of all air traffic and the noise usually coming from the sky has given the local population a moment of peace and quiet. The airport reopens on October 15.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
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Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
