As one of the Caribbean’s most popular cruise ship destinations gets ready for the upcoming tourism surge, a critical infrastructure upgrade is now in progress along St. John’s downtown waterfront in Antigua and Barbuda. The Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority has launched a comprehensive four-phase rehabilitation project to rebuild the boardwalk that connects the key tourist hubs of Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay, with work prioritized to wrap up before the start of the 2026-27 cruise tourism season.
The project targets decades of wear and water damage that have left large sections of the existing boardwalk deteriorated. According to port officials, the scope of work includes full structural upgrades to extend the boardwalk’s lifespan and cut down on long-term maintenance costs. All of the old, decaying wooden support piles will be removed and replaced with durable concrete piles, while the water-damaged existing decking will be swapped out for pressure-treated pine that has been specially sealed to resist future water damage. These upgrades are expected to deliver a far safer walking experience for the thousands of pedestrians that traverse the boardwalk every cruise season, from tourists to local vendors and port staff.
To minimize disruption to waterfront businesses, tourist access, and daily port operations, the entire project is being rolled out in sequential phases rather than closing the full length of the boardwalk all at once. Work kicked off on the highest-priority segment: the main connecting stretch between Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay. Once that phase is complete, crews will move on to the section adjacent to the Heritage Quay police outpost. The third phase will focus on the boardwalk segment running from Exotic Antigua to the Boardwalk Casino, and the final phase will cover the stretch from the casino eastward to Lower Nevis Street.
The project is overseen by Port Manager Dr. Darwin Telemaque, whose team is coordinating closely with contractors and waterfront stakeholders to keep the project on schedule. Barring any unforeseen construction delays, the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority remains confident that all work will be fully completed before the 2026-27 cruise season gets underway, delivering an upgraded, more resilient waterfront experience for both visitors and local residents.