$8.7M Rota runway expansion project breaks ground

ROTA—Commonwealth and local officials yesterday touted the expansion of the Rota International Airport’s runway as a step toward developing the island’s tourism industry.

During a groundbreaking ceremony led by the Commonwealth Ports Authority, government and private officials expressed their optimism that the $8.7-million runway extension would pave the way for increased passenger traffic and enhance the economy of the CNMI’s south-most island.

ÅgThere is a great deal of potential for Rota to develop sustainable tourism and I believe that the people of Rota have the will and the vision to accomplish this. This runway extension is a step in that direction,Åh said Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente.

Sen. Diego Songao, chairman of the Rota Legislative Delegation, stressed that the development of port facilities was paramount to economic improvement.

In view of this, he called on CPA to help Rota officials in their efforts to get an advanced landing system for the island’s airport. He maintained that because of the lack of such landing system, airplanes could not land on the airport during poor weather.

CPA executive director Carlos Salas pledged support to further port facility improvements in Rota.

For his part, Or Toh Wat, vice president of OKP (CNMI) Corp., said that the runway extension was the first project of his Singapore-based construction firm, he was confident that they would be able to complete the project in a timely and safe manner.

Under the contract, OKP has 300 days to complete the extension.

The project consists of adding 1,000 feet to the existing 6,000-feet Runway 09-27, improving the shoulders along the entire length of the runway, and a turn around at each end.

It would allow Rota’s airport to serve modern, long-haul aircraft such as Boeing 767s or 757s.

The runway extension is funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and capital improvement program funds allocated by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

EM Chen and Associates provided the architectural and engineering services.

In his speech, Benavente recalled that the project originated in the Airport Development Plan for Rota International Airport which was updated four years ago in a joint effort by CPA and FAA.

The plan was based on traffic projections derived from the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Rota leadership and community, and CPA’s traffic data.

The development plan projected airport traffic for the next 20 years and recommended expansion of the airport, by phases, to accommodate the projected growth.