CPA breaks ground on commuter access road paving project

The Commonwealth Ports Authority officially broke ground on the over $1-million project to pave the access road leading to the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport’s commuter terminal.

Last week, CPA was joined by representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, CNMI dignitaries, and members of the community to officially break ground on the long-overdue project to pave the access road to the Saipan airport’s commuter terminal.

The $1.7-million project, funded by the FAA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Airport Terminals Program, involves paving the access road starting from the intersection of Tun Herman Pan Road to the commuter terminal.

The contractors hired to complete the project by July are Hawaiian Rock Products and Hofschneider Engineering Corp.

Present during the groundbreaking ceremony were FAA Western-Pacific Region Director Mark McClardy, Airport District Office assistant manager Carlos Salas, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, and members of the CNMI Legislature.

CPA chair Jose “Joe” Ayuyu, during his speech, said this is only the beginning in terms of future renovations to the Saipan International Airport.

“Please bear with us. We are moving forward. There’s so much that we can accomplish,” Ayuyu said.

Palacios also took to the podium last Thursday to thank CPA for its efforts to improve the Saipan International Airport terminal.

Apatang echoed Palacios’ sentiment adding that with the upcoming improvements, everyone, including visitors, will remember the great experience of arriving and departing Saipan.

In an interview with McClardy, he said he looks forward to being back in the CNMI soon to witness more ceremonies as major and minor improvements are underway for all CNMI airports including the Tinian and Rota International Airport.