Pierhead Project To Breathe New Life Into Bridgetown

The official launch of the $200 million Bridgetown Pierhead Project waterfront development project will breathe new life into historic Bridgetown and bring about a transformation never seen in the island’s existence.

This is according to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who spoke at the official ceremony at the construction site to an audience that included founder and investor Neville Isdell. The project, she said was essential to the revitalisation of Bridgetown.

She added that the investment had progressed beyond the planning and storytelling of the city’s history, and was at a stage where persons visiting Bridgetown would start to see the investment “unfold” before their eyes as the construction phase was expedited.

“The investment is real and it is substantive.  It is at a point where we expect to see things expedited such that anyone visiting Bridgetown, would want to know and ask, ‘What is that, can I be a part of that? Can I visit that and can I have a store in there? can I buy an apartment in there, can I have a museum in there, can I practise my artistic craft in there? But above all else, can I swim also in the beautiful beaches which this allows us to do?” Ms. Mottley pointed out.

Additionally, Ms. Mottley maintained that the Hyatt project was also key in to reviving Bridgetown. “The journey of the Pierhead and of the Hyatt Hotel has been tortuous at times, controversial at times, but necessary for the vitality of this capital city. There are things that are still in the process of being addressed, that would determine the level of success that we will have. The issue of traffic and “pedestrianisation” of our capital city, has fully to be addressed.”

Ms. Mottley insisted that Bridgetown’s redevelopment must encompass residents living in Nelson Street, Vine Street and the environs to show that the “development is not simply about bringing people in to make money and commerce or to bring people in as tourists, but it is about the total development of this capital city.”

The audience also heard about other planned development for the city that included the Granville Williams Bus Terminal, Carlisle House, the redevelopment of the River Bus Terminal, among others.

The Prime Minister added that the Pierhead Project would also see the restoration and operation of the historic Screw Dock on the Inner Basin of the Careenage.

Ms. Mottley acknowledged that the upcoming projects may result in a shortage of skills in several areas but stressed that the jobs registry would identify the skills available to ensure that Barbadians are given the first choice for employment.

The project will be executed in three phases that will see construction of apartments, retail shops, food and beverage spaces, enhanced landscaping, thoughtfully designed public areas, a berthing area, cultural spaces, among other amenities.

Phase 1, the Steel Building, is expected to be completed by mid-2027; while Phase 2, House of Pillars and Phase three, Bridge House, are projected to be completed towards the ending of 2028 and mid-2031, respectively. (PR/GIS)