The visibility study according to CEO of Heiland Construction Company Geoff Nunoo involves a topographical survey of the existing airport facilities, available land for construction of additional runway and buildings among other issues. He said the study is necessary for experts to determine the exact location for a new terminal and other facilities.
Mr. Nunoo maintained that they also want to identify the characteristics of the land available, stating that they would need to develop topographical and contour maps which show the elevation of the land. “Based on that we have designed; an engineering team will be able to provide conceptual architecture design of the new terminal,” Nunoo said.
“Encroachment is always a problem and so it is very important to know where your boundaries lie in order to conduct detail topographical survey,” Nunoo said, adding that people can control the land once they have done the survey.
Mr. Nunoo further disclosed that they will be starting preliminary work for the project, adding that there are certain preliminary works that need to be done when surveying the land in order to know the nature of the terrain they would be working on and also to know the nature of the soil.
Edward William, Board Chairman Sierra Leone Airport Authority said the visibility study is also to look at the available resources for the construction of additional buildings including a five star hotel at the airport.
Mr. William disclosed that over five thousand acres of land would be needed for the construction of a new terminal building, a five star hotel and a recreation center. He added that (a local company) Natur Global Company will be leading the project.
Marketing Director of Natur Global Company – Sierra Leone, Abdul Koroma said the airport is the main gateway to the country, and that it is long overdue for the country to have a new terminal and a hotel to attract tourists and investors and also attract flight operators.
The hotel according to Mr. Koroma will be very important for the airport and the country in general because it will attract investors. He added that flight crew members on late night flights would find it more comfortable to check in at the airport’s 5 star hotel, rather than stay at a lesser hotel outside the airport premises.
“Finally, this project is going to create lots of jobs for the youth residing around the airport area,” he added.
