$4.4-M needed to repair Airport Road

The CNMI government has been asked to identify additional sources of funds in order to undertake a major infrastructure project aimed at improving the poor conditions of the Saipan Airport Road.

Citing its importance in providing the first impression to tourists, House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication chair Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho said the thoroughfare’s poor condition may dampen Saipan’s image as a prime tour destination.

“As we all are aware, the first impression is the last impression. With this in mind, I would like to bring to your attention the need to improve the airport road,” Mr. Camacho told Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio in a letter.

Mr. Camacho pointed out that almost 100 percent of tourists in the Northern Marianas arrive through the Saipan International Airport and that they normally commute using the 1.47-mile strip of road.

“After a number of exhausting hours of flight time, our visitors are welcomed by the poor and unsightly conditions of the road,” he said, adding that this is deterrent to the government’s efforts to increase the volume of repeat-travelers into the islands.

He added that local residents have also voiced out concerns on the deteriorating condition of the stretch leading to Saipan’s air transport facility. “Most feel uneasy when encountering large tour buses ion the narrow strip of the airport road.”

Mr. Camacho also noted the potential dangers posed by the thoroughfare’s poor condition on the local residents’ safety as well as their personal vehicles.

He said improvement and maintenance of the road is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works. Repair of the facility may require about $4.367 million in total funds from the CNMI government.

Aside from the needed repair of the airport road, plans are also underway to expand the runway of the Saipan International Airport from 8,600 feet to 10,600 feet since its current capacity restricts the facility from accommodating direct flights from the mainland United States.

At present, the airport can only receive flights from the closer Asian cities. The facility hosts an air carrier apron that has parking position for six aircraft. With these, it can accommodate expected growth in the tourism industry in the near future even without expansion.

Officials have said, however, that the Saipan airport is too small for direct flights from the mainland US and has only one runway which has the potentials of creating scheduling conflicts especially when the number of international flights increase.

Part of future improvement plans for the Saipan International Airport, aside from extending the current runway to 10,600 feet, is the construction of a new parallel runway with connecting taxiways.