By Simon Jones
Published Jan 15, 2015 at 8:00 am (Updated Jan 15, 2015 at 3:14 pm)

Click here to see an Aquarium update from Dr. Ian Walker, Principal Curator at th Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.

Work on the aquarium’s new roof is over halfway complete and the project remains well on track, according to Dr Ian Walker.

The Curator of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo told The Royal Gazette he hoped the major construction work would be completed by March and the main hall would be open to the public again in April.

A Sunrise Construction crew member continues work on the roof structure improvements
at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (Photo by Akil Simmons)

A crew from Sunrise Construction continue work
on the roof structure improvements at the Bermuda
Aquarium Museum and Zoo (Photo by Akil Simmons)

Dr Walker admitted there had been a drop-off in visitors since Christmas, and suggested that it could be because many people mistakenly believed that the aquarium was closed.

“We are very much open,” he said. “The only part of the aquarium and zoo that is closed is the main hall that housed the majority of the fish tanks. These animals have been moved behind the scenes while the work continues.

“The Northrock tank is still open and we would urge people to visit as they usually would.”

Team effort: A crew from Sunrise Construction work on the roof structure improvements
at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (Photo by Akil Simmons)

A crew from Sunrise Construction continue work on the roof structure improvements
at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (Photo by Akil Simmons)

The project, which began in October, has involved the complete demolition of the old roof and a series of new steel beams, which will form the frame of the new roof, have already been installed.

Just last week crews from Sunrise Construction began to put the corrugated roofing into place.

A crew from Sunrise Construction work in the main hall of
Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo (Photo by Akil Simmons)?

Construction workers tackle roof repairs at Bermuda Aquarium,
Museum and Zoo (Photo by Mark Tatem)?

Dr Walker said: “We are very happy with how the work has progressed.

“We are on schedule and the guys are working seven days a week to get the job done.

“There is still a lot of work to be done even after the roof is completed.

“We hope to be able to start working on the interior of the main hall in February to reinstate the tanks and start putting up new graphics.”