Long-delayed Tinian road project begins

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial announced Friday that another long-delayed project will begin construction soon.

The Tinian Route 202 project, which calls for construction of nearly one mile of paved highway, will commence on Monday, June 16, 2008. The project will include improvements to the island’s drainage system.

The announcement comes a day after the governor reported the initiation of the Rota hemodialysis project. Contractors started building the new facility on Rota Thursday after three years of delay.

The Tinian road project had been in the works since 2004. It was placed on hold until recently, when the Department of Public Works, with the assistance of the newly created Governor’s Capital Improvement Project Task Force, resolved pending issues and moved the project forward from the planning stage to the construction stage.

This project involves the reconstruction of Route 202, located in the village of San Jose, Tinian. The 4,932-feet highway will be a 24-feet wide, two-lane asphalt-paved roadway. The project begins at the intersection of Broadway and terminates at the entrance of the seaport.

The scope of the project consists of the preparation and installation of six-inch base course, 18-inch subbase course, 2 and ½ inch asphalt pavement, curb and gutters, concrete swales, pavement markers, traffic signs, five-foot pedestrian walkways on both sides, drainage manholes, catch basins, chain link fences, and six ponding basins. The project includes the installation and maintenance of erosion control measures during construction period and temporary traffic control plans to ensure that traffic progresses safely.

The government has awarded the project construction to Guam Pacific Power Corporation, and retained William S. Hofschneider, a consulting engineer, to serve as the project’s construction manager. A project coordinator has also been assigned. This team will ensure construction performance, quality assurance and the timely completion of the project.

The project is expected to be completed within 270 working days, or by July 2009.

The total project cost, including design, construction and construction management, of the project is roughly $1.8 million, and it is funded by the Federal Highway Administration.

Fitial again praised DPW and the CIP Task Force for its efforts in making the reconstruction of Route 202, with drainage improvement, a reality. He also thanked FHWA for providing funds for the project.

“Once again, our DPW team has delivered another important project for our Commonwealth. I am proud of our DPW team and the leadership offered by Secretary Diego Songsong,” Fitial said.