Airports Authority denies runway extension causing Port Royal flooding

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) has strongly refuted claims linking the Norman Manley International Airport's runway extension project to seawater ingress and rising water levels in Port Royal. Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell had raised concerns about inadequate consultation and the perceived impact of the development on Port Royal, which has recently experienced flooding.

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It is well known that seawater ingress into Port Royal is not a new phenomenon and has been occurring well before the commencement of the NMIA runway extension project. Consequently, it ought not to be associated with the current runway extension works at NMIA.

In a press release, the AAJ asserted that the 300-meter Westward Extension project benefited from years of comprehensive engineering, environmental, and hydrodynamic studies. These investigations, along with reviews by Jamaican authorities like the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), were conducted to ensure the project would not negatively affect coastal interests.

The authority emphasized that seawater ingress in Port Royal is a long-standing issue, predating the runway extension. They stated that the project's structures and provisions do not impede the natural movement of seawater. Furthermore, the AAJ highlighted the scale difference between Kingston Harbour (approximately 18 square miles) and the runway extension area (about 0.1 square miles), noting the extension occupies only about 0.6% of the harbor's surface area.

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The structures, works and provisioning for this project does not obstruct, inhibit or interfere with the flow/movement of sea water between any of the contiguous water bodies or with the open sea.

Regarding the water level concerns, the AAJ explained that the fill material for the runway platform is acquired through dredging within the harbor near the site. This process, they argued, actually reduces the net water level in Kingston Harbour, contrary to the purported increase. The AAJ affirmed its commitment to addressing legitimate concerns with objective engineering evidence and established environmental principles.

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Furthermore, the fill material used for constructing the runway platform is being acquired through dredging of the sea floor within Kingston Harbour near the runway extension site. Therefore, the net water level in Kingston Harbour is reduced by this process instead of increasing as is being incorrectly purported.