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Tinian airport expansion gets $6.51 million more
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Posted on Jul 24 2000
An additional funding of $6.51 million was earmarked last Friday by lawmakers for the West Tinian International Airport expansion project after its initial estimated budget of $17 million fell short of actual costs.
Half of that money will come from the proceeds of the forthcoming $60 million bonds that the government will float to finance various capital improvement projects in the CNMI, while the other half will be from the federal construction grants under the Covenant Section 702 funding.
The House of Representatives cleared the appropriation bill sponsored by Tinian Rep. Norman S. Palacios to set the process in motion and is now awaiting action by the Senate.
The passage of HB 12-188 or the Tinian Supplemental Capital Improvement Projects Appropriations Act of 2000 came three months after Tinian officials and the administration of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio agreed to tap these funding sources for the much-delayed airport project in the island municipality.
The Commonwealth Ports Authority is currently reviewing bids submitted by various local and international firms for the project touted to be a big boost to Tinian’s tourism industry.
CPA opened the bidding for the Tinian airport improvement last April, which will include the construction of a new runway designed to accommodate larger aircraft.
So far, about $17 million have been made available for the project, almost half of which were sourced out of the Federal Aviation Administration grants. CPA officials estimate the total costs to reach around $20 million.
FAA has allocated about $9.387 million for the construction of the new runway and other airport improvements. The CNMI government, on the other hand, has pitched in $3.4 million in CIP funds for the airport transport facility.
Once the project is completed, Tinian leaders hope to entice international airlines to service direct flights to the island from key Asian cities which will help its thriving casino and other tourism businesses.
