The Central Bus Terminal in Hamilton is ?near substantial completion? according to Tourism and Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

However, there is no word from Government as to when exactly Bermudians and visitors alike will be able to use this new ultra modern facility.

Earlier this year, Works and Engineering Minister Ashfield DeVent announced the completion date would be towards the end of summer ? almost five months after the original completion date and a half a million over budget.

The Hamilton hub is now costing close to $2.9 million.

Government decided to replace the old bus terminal, which was built in the 1970s, as it could no longer meet the needs of commuters.

Concerns were raised about inadequate coverage during bad weather and a lack of capacity for buses pulling in to service over three million passenger rides annually.

According to Dr. Brown the new terminal is expected to be user friendly for visitors and tourists and sports a continuous canopy which, once completed, will cover not only the buses, but also passengers waiting at the various terminals.

While the new ticket office, painted in a traditional Bermuda pink, is an airy two-storey rounded building with large glass windows facing east.

The name of the new terminal will be announced shortly and according to Dr. Brown will reflect the Government?s pledge to honour Bermuda?s heroes.

He also announced the delivery of several new, replacement buses for those destroyed in the fire earlier this year, expected in September.

The new buses will further reduce the average age of the fleet.

Shortly after the devastating fire on Easter Sunday, the Public Transportation Board (PTB) announced that the cost for the seven buses destroyed in the fire ? of which one was a 2004 model ? could run to $280,000 each, or nearly $2 million in total.

There is also no word from Government as to the final cost of the replacement buses, but PTB announced in March that it would absorb as much of the cost of damage through insurance coverage.

A new high speed ferry is also on the cards for the Island as bids are currently being reviewed.