Barbados Mega Projects 2024

It’s impressive how Barbados is investing in many diverse and impactful infrastructure projects! Each one seems crucial for the country’s development and resilience.

In this video, we continue our series of “Mega Projects In The Caribbean” 

So, step into the future of Barbados with us as we unveil 10 significant transformative infrastructure projects reshaping the island’s landscape and propelling it towards a brighter tomorrow. 

From modernizing transportation networks to revolutionizing healthcare facilities and expanding vital ports, discover how these megaprojects are paving the way for unprecedented growth and opportunity in Barbados. 

You can find the Link to other Caribbean Mega Projects in this series in the description below.

In the tapestry of a nation’s progress, infrastructure is the sturdy framework upon which economic growth, social development, and transformative change are woven. Nowhere is this more evident than in the radiant jewel of the Caribbean, Barbados. Renowned for its azure waters, pristine beaches, and vibrant culture, Barbados is not merely a paradise for tourists but also a thriving economy, undergoing several megaprojects set to transform and propel the country forward.

From the bustling streets of Bridgetown to the serene villages nestled along the coast, Barbados has long recognized the pivotal role of infrastructure in shaping its destiny. As the island nation embarked on a journey of modernization and development, a wave of megaprojects swept across its landscape, heralding a new era of progress and prosperity.

These megaprojects stand not only as monuments to engineering prowess but also as beacons of hope for a brighter future. They represent a convergence of innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity, promising to uplift communities, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for all Barbadians.

Here are 10 of the biggest megaprojects in Barbados!

#10 – Mill and Pave Program

We start our list today at #10 with one of the most immediate and impactful programs currently underway: The Barbados Mill and Pave Program. This initiative improves the country’s roads by resurfacing almost a third of its roadways. 

The Barbados $30 million initiative is being touted as a pivotal component of the Ministry and Transport and Work’s ongoing maintenance strategy to extend road longevity and enhance motorists’ experience across the island. The program primarily targets roads with deteriorated surfaces where utility services are already in place or do not need significant upgrades, as well as those not requiring reconstruction and drainage works.

So far, the government has already resurfaced a dozen roads spanning 8.8 kilometers, and work is underway on an additional nine roads. Many more roads are to come. 

#9 – Barbados Coastal Resiliency Project 

At #9, we’re moving on to a project aimed at securing the country’s resilience to climate change; we have the Barbados Coastal Resiliency Project. As the name suggests, the Coastal Resiliency Project is part of an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan of Barbados $100 million to boost the climate resilience of its coastal areas and foster climate-resilient economic development.

The program will build integrated infrastructure, such as breakwaters, drainage works, walkways, boardwalks, and groynes, to reduce climate risk and erosion along the country’s coasts. It will also include beach restoration and clean-up activities to beautify the island’s beaches. Barbados has 60 miles of coastline, 20 of which are central to the country’s tourism industry, attracting over one million visitors annually and accounting for 13% of the country’s GDP. The project’s loan was approved in late January 2024, with work expected to start soon. 

#8 – National Stadium Redevelopment 

Moving on to #8, we come to a project that has been on the cards for years but is finally expected to get up and running this year. There have been plans proposed to redevelop the country’s premier athletics complex, the National Stadium Redevelopment, since 2018, however, the project has faced numerous setbacks. The Stadium, which was opened in 1970, has deteriorated over the years and was condemned by football’s world governing body, FIFA, 16 years ago as unsuitable to host international matches.

Back in 2022, the country received an undisclosed grant for the redevelopment and upgrade of the stadium from the Chinese Government, and an MOU was signed for the facilitation of works between the two parties. Outside of the grant, the project is also set to receive a $40 million loan from the China Development Bank to support construction. Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment has acknowledged that delays surrounding the stadium’s construction centered around “the rejigging of plans for the Waterford, St Michael facility” to ensure one “measures twice and cuts once.” However, it has been highlighted that pricing for Phase 2 of the project is currently underway by the Chinese developers, and once completed, work will begin in earnest.

#7 – Kensington Oval Upgrade

Next up on our list at #7, we have upgraded works on one the most iconic international venues in the work, the Kensington Oval. The iconic cricket stadium is set to host nine matches of the ICC T20 World Cup, including the big finals match. To get the country and facilities ready for the big event, the Chairman of the renowned grounds, alongside the country’s Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, secured a BDS $50 million loan to upgrade and maintain the iconic Kensington Oval.

The works include significant refurbishments to the stands, from cleaning and repainting to repairs and installation of improved lighting, among many other things. Work started in November of last year to bring the stadium up to scratch, with approximately 80% of the work completed as of mid-April. 

#6 – Home Ownership Providing Energy Inc (HOPE) Project

Next up on our list at #6, we have “HOPE,” but not the faith kind, but the Home Ownership Providing Energy Inc. Project, which sounds like a mouthful. The HOPE project, launched by the government of Barbados back in 2022, is a transformative housing initiative with energy-efficient, hurricane-resilient homes for first-time home buyers. The HOPE project is just one of the programs aimed at addressing the issue of housing supply and affordability, especially among first-time home buyers. Additionally, one of the significant benefits of the HOPE project for homeowners is the use of solar panels on each house, whose energy can be sold, resulting in lower costs for buyers. 

The first location in Sunderland, St. James, is slated to have 154 houses, with 57 already completed and ready to be occupied. Other phases of the HOPE project will see an additional 400 houses built at at least four other locations. The total costs of the scheme are over $250 million for Barbados, with the government putting up $80 million so far in the first phase. The HOPE Project is one of the many ongoing housing development projects alongside private construction of homes, with a whopping 267 houses being built in Atlantic Breeze, Christ Church. 

#5 – Shallow Draught Marina

Continuing along our list of influential development projects currently underway in Barbados, at #5, we highlight the construction of a Shallow Draught Marina for smaller vessels in the heart of the capital Bridgetown. The construction of the new and expanded Shallow Draught Marina is one of the transformative infrastructure projects as outlined in the Barbados Port Inc. Masterplan 2020-2030 and Port Expansion.

To Improve the availability of marina slips in Barbados to meet demand and provide a haven for pleasure craft and commercial tourism vessels. This project comprises the construction of an additional 70 berths, a commercial building, storage facilities for boat owners and operators, construction of a fish and farmer’s market, as well as other ancillary buildings such as a minimart, fuel dock, a ferry dock, and wave attenuation structures. The Barbados $40 million Shallow Draft Marina project started in February 2022 and was scheduled to be completed in February 2024, but delays have pushed the completion time back to later this year. 

#4 – Pierhead Development Project Bridgetown 

We continue smartly on our list to another project set to revolutionize the country’s capital and that is the Pierhead Development Project in the heart of Bridgetown at #4. After more than 20 years in the making and a change of investors, the multi-million-dollar Pierhead Development Project in the capital city of Bridgetown was finally given the green light to start construction in November 2023. 

It is set to encompass about 10.8 acres, comprising land from notable locations along the shoreline from Fort Willoughby and along the Wharf to the iconic swing bridge and onto one of the island’s central shopping locations, Bay Street. The project is expected to revitalize Bridgetown, create new business opportunities for small entrepreneurs, boost the economy, and attract significant investment to the island. The project is estimated to cost 160 million dollars. 

#3 – Grantley Adams International Airport Upgrades

We now come to our top three spots, the most significant development projects underway in Barbados. At our number 3 spot, we have potentially one of the most significant projects in the country that is in its final stages of planning, and that is upgrades to the country’s Grantley Adams International Airport. The government of Barbados, in July of last year, signed a memorandum of understanding between the Grantley Adams International Airport, the Sultan of Dubai, and Chile to establish a Public Private Partnership or PPP for upgrades to the airport.

The approximate US $300 million deal will see the leasing and operations of the airport to a private company in exchange for the investment and further development of the airport. Negotiations for the Public Private Partnership were set to be completed in the New Year, according to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, but it appears the official closing of the deal is delayed until later this year, with upgrades planned to start by year-end. Some of the enhancements proposed under the PPP include refurbishments to the airport, terminal extension and upgrades for private and luxury terminal entrances, an airport hotel, increased parking spaces and more. 

#2 – Queen Elizabeth Hospital A&E Project

Next up in our number 2 slot, we have a project set to reform the healthcare landscape in the country, and that is to upgrade the Queen Elizabeth Hospital A&E Project, the primary hospital in the country. The Badados 13.5 million dollar upgrade works for the country’s hospital will focus on improving the Accident and Emergency department, which has come under strain in recent years.

This project entailed three phases, which began back before Covid-19. Phase one saw the construction of an access road, sewerage, drainage, and car park works. Phase two followed with the construction of a new 9000 square feet single-story building featuring three vehicle ambulance bays, with provisions made to extend upward to another three stories. The final phase of the project was the reconfiguration and renovation of the present Accident and Emergency department, with work such as installing new partitions, ceilings, floor finishes, lights, and air conditioning systems. The project is nearing completion, and the new 18,000-square-foot facility is set to open anytime soon.

#1 – Barbados Cargo and Cruise Port Expansion 

In our number 1 spot, the biggest and possibly the most impactful project currently underway in Barbados is the Barbados Cargo and Cruise Port Expansion. The Barbados Port expansion is set to significantly increase the country’s capacity for both passengers and cargo. Titled the Berth 6 Expansion, the project at the Bridgetown Port is set to cost the BDS $108 million, following a renegotiated contract from one that was initially signed in May 2017.

The Berth 6 Expansion scope of works is extensive, but some of the works include the installation of retention walls, dredging and land reclamation, bulk filling and concrete reinforcement, installation of topside components such as crane rails, cargo inspection facilities, and much, much more. The extensive works are set to expand the port by 10 acres, a move aimed at accommodating larger cargo ships and cruise vessels. 

Therefore, Berth 6 will be strategically positioned to cater to container cargo ships, which, in turn, will free up the remaining berths to facilitate the increasing demand for cruise ship traffic, according to the Minister of Tourism and International Transport. The project started in January 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2024. 

A Bright Future Ahead

As we highlight these developments to the infrastructure of Barbados, one thing becomes abundantly clear,  these endeavors represent not just monumental feats of engineering but pillars upon which the future prosperity of the nation is built. Through strategic infrastructure investment, Barbados is laying the groundwork for sustainable economic development that will reverberate for generations to come.

From investing in affordable housing to the further development of its capital city and port, these projects will play a vital role in driving economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and fostering innovation across diverse sectors of the economy. As the nation continues to build and invest in its future, we remain eager to see how the country transforms into a beacon of the Caribbean. 

Are there any infrastructure projects in Barbados that particularly caught your attention? Which one do you think will have the most significant impact on the country’s future? Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights.”

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This is Caribbean Focus by Jirie

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