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Mayor: Fast-track airport runway construction
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Posted on Sep 14 2000
Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona is urging the Commonwealth Ports Authority to expedite the bidding process for the rehabilitation of the island’s airport runway, which was recently given the go-signal by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The airport runway improvement project is still our number one priority. We must get the project constructed. We cannot wait any longer. We are losing our patience,” said Mr. Manglona in a letter to CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas.
The mayor said fast-tracked completion of the Rota International Airport’s runway would provide the needed boost to the island’s tourism industry, thereby, allowing the growth of its sleepy economy.
“The airport improvement will be a real incentive. We need you and the Board’s support to get the project started immediately. Action is the solution to our ailing economy,” Mr. Manglona said.
The mayor emphasized that prospects are bright for the island’s economic program which is not expected to take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.
He added a jet service to and from the island would only become possible if and when airport runway and terminal facilities are rehabilitated and improved, thereby, securing the safety of incoming and outgoing passengers.
FAA’s approval of the project is expected to hasten the repair and improvement of the island’s air transport facility, a project that has been aggressively pushed by Mr. Manglona who had brought his concerns to the attention of the United States Congress and the federal transportation department.
The project, which has been previously stalled due to lack of funding, was aimed at improving the skid resistance of the Rota International Airport runway.
Current efforts are focused at improving the skid resistance of the island’s air transport facility runway in order to make it less slippery especially during the rainy season.
The runway rehabilitation project costs about $3.3 million.
