CNMI gets $18M federal highway funds

The CNMI government will get a total of $18 million, including $12 million for the Talafofo bridge and road construction, from the recently signed multi-billion federal transportation bill.

Local officials led by Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Public Works Secretary John S. Reyes said during a media briefing yesterday that they are grateful to Alaska congressman Don Young, who “protected” the funds for the CNMI. Young chairs the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which recommended the $286.4 billion highway bill.

Babauta said yesterday that the CNMI had almost lost the Talafofo funding when the Highway Reauthorization bill failed to pass the U.S. Congress earlier.

“If not for the chairman’s help, we would have not gotten this $12 million funding. With chairman Young protecting our project, we got it,” he said, noting that his administration had formally asked for Young’s support over two years ago.

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said a meeting with committee members, including former Labor Secretary Mark Zachares, also boosted the CNMI standing. Zachares is now senior counsel for the transportation committee.

Reyes said that in anticipation of the federal funding, his department went ahead with the environmental assessment for the Talafofo project, which is expected to be completed in February 2006. Construction would follow upon completion of the assessment.

Babauta said yesterday that the reauthorization bill also gives some $6 million for CNMI road projects. This fund, which is given every five years, will be used for various road projects on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Babauta said the new reauthorization almost doubled the existing level of $3.2 million highway funding for the CNMI.

Meantime, the $12 million funding will be spent for the planning, design and construction of the East Coast Highway, Route 36 connecting the road by Kingfisher Golf Course to the road adjacent to Bird Island.

The project includes the construction of two bridges: an approximately 150-foot bridge over a ravine, replacing a bridge that had been washed out by a typhoon years ago, and another one over a nearby ravine.

Present at yesterday’s press briefing and onsite inspection were Federal Highway Administration officers Abraham Wong, Richelle Takara, and Larry Smith.