Posted on: Monday, May 5, 2003

Fair to highlight Ford Island work plans

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

A business trade fair will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Ala Moana Hotel to brief Hawai'i contractors, distributors and related businesses on the Ford Island redevelopment project.

Fluor Hawaii LLC, owned by Fluor Federal Services and the Hunt Building Co., was selected by the Navy to enter into exclusive negotiations for the project that includes new housing, office space, retail and a visitor attraction on the historic 450-acre island.

Fluor Federal Services said it will complete a number of infrastructure-related projects on Ford Island, including road improvements, a new sewage collection system, and new electrical and telecommunication systems to allow the development of the island.

Fluor plans to install nearly seven miles of new or improved roads, four miles of new pipe and 10 miles of new cable.

At the trade fair, Fluor will introduce its management team and provide information about business opportunities available. No date was given for the start of the projects.

The Navy wants to centralize operations on Ford Island. In April of 2002, the Navy selected a "medium intensity" development road map for Ford Island that calls for up to 420 family housing units, bachelor enlisted quarters for up to 1,000 sailors, 190,000 square feet of office space for 1,500 additional employees, and a new training complex.

The master planner also must come up with a plan to sell or lease outlying Navy properties to finance the Ford Island project.

Negotiations are in the final stages between Fluor and the Navy, and the conclusion of those talks is expected within the next few months.