June 12, 2003 – Never mind that it's Friday the 13th. After more than three decades of hoping, talking, planning and waiting for approval of plans, there's hardly anyone who doesn't see the formal groundbreaking for the Enighed Pond Marine Facility as a good omen for St. John.
The ceremony is set for 2 p.m. Friday, with the V.I. government and the Port Authority as co-hosts.
American Bridge Co., a construction firm based in Orlando, Florida, has been contracted to carry out the project. Work began on April 1 and is expected to be completed in about 15 months, according to a VIPA release issued Thursday.
The project entails the construction of 650 feet of berthing space for cargo vessels, six acres of land area for cargo handling and storage, and a channel and turning basin for vessels up to 175 feet in length with a draft of up to 12 feet. It's being funded with $16 million in federal Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds.
Initially a marina for leisure vessels was to have been a part of the project; however, the Port Authority, citing limited funding, recently dropped that part of the plan
The current commercial dock area at the Creek will be developed for passenger vessel use once the new marine facility is in operation, he release stated.
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