Three Bermudian engineering firms yesterday celebrated major contracts for work on the new airport which will provide work for more than 50 people.

Bermuda-Caribbean Engineering, D&J Excavation and Correia Construction have all been awarded a share of work on the terminal project, run by Canadian company Aecon.

Correia Construction has won a contract with Canadian firm RA Murray for supply and trucking of gravel, creating work for 27 Bermudians working 15-hour shifts over five days.

The island firm will also work with general contractor Aecon on the transport of piles to Marginal Wharf in St George’s and driving the piles, which will involve ten Bermudian staff over a five-month period.

D&J Excavation will have 15 staff working on a three to five month contact preparing the airport site and access roads and excavating the foundations for the passenger terminal.

Bermuda-Caribbean Engineering will carry out surveying work on the site.

David Summers, president of Bermuda-Caribbean, said: “The airport is a major piece of work and we’re grateful for that work. I think it’s tremendously important.”

Mr Summers added: “The contracts that have been awarded are nearly all pre-construction — hopefully there will be more to come involving more Bermudian firms.

He added: “It’s our experience in construction that things have really picked up in the last 12 months and the airport work is just another project on top of all the other projects that have come to life.”

Bermuda-Caribbean, which employs six people, will carry out a range of pre-engineering work on the project, including topographical surveying and setting-up work.

Neither Correia Construction or D&J Excavation responded to requests for comment.

Frank Ross, executive advisor on infrastructure at Aecon, which started unloading materials and site preparation last week, said: “We are now beginning to prepare the airport site for ground breaking and we are delighted to award these four construction contracts.

“These initial contracts will create immediate employment for more than 50 Bermudians.

“We are looking forward to getting started on the project with our Bermudian partners.”

The airport will take 40 months to build and is scheduled to be ready by 2020.