Rota runway project ready by July

The Commonwealth Ports Authority disclosed construction works at the Rota International Airport runway is progressing well and that the project will be completed according to the original schedule presented by its contractor.

Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said re-sealing of the island’s air transport facility’s runway started on time, adding that construction work is running smoothly. He said the refurbished runway would be ready by July this year.

The project is being carried out at a cost of $2.79 million by Nippon Hodo Construction Limited which emerged as the apparent low bidder. Its bid includes remarking, regrooving and rehabilitation works at the island’s airport runway.

The Rota International Airport runway rehabilitation is financed through the Capital Improvement Project funds with up to $450,000 in appropriation from the Federal Aviation Administration’s airport improvement plan.

Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona has been persistently clamoring that CPA expedite the rehabilitation of the island’s airport runway, which was given the go-signal by the Federal Aviation Administration only last year.

Mr. Manglona previously told CPA officials that the airport runway improvement project remains the local government’s number one priority. “We must get the project constructed. We cannot wait any longer. We are losing our patience.”

The mayor said fast-tracked completion of the Rota International Airport’s runway would provide the needed boost to the island’s tourism industry, thereby, allowing the growth of its sleepy economy.

The mayor emphasized that prospects are bright for the island’s economic program which is not expected to take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.

He added a jet service to and from the island would only become possible if and when airport runway and terminal facilities are rehabilitated and improved, thereby, securing the safety of incoming and outgoing passengers.

FAA’s approval of the project is expected to hasten the repair and improvement of the island’s air transport facility, a project that has been aggressively pushed by Mr. Manglona who had brought his concerns to the attention of the United States Congress and the federal transportation department.

The project, which has been previously stalled due to lack of funding, was aimed at improving the skid resistance of the Rota International Airport runway.

Current efforts are focused at improving the skid resistance of the island’s air transport facility runway in order to make it less slippery especially during the rainy season.

The need for rehabilitation of the Rota airport’s runway was first raised when Continental Micronesia permanently suspended Boeing 727 turbojet service to the island, citing reasons of lower braking effectiveness.