Rota airport rehab project kicks off

Bowing to pressures from the Rota leadership, the Commonwealth Ports Authority is scheduled to meet today with potential bidders who may be interested to undertake the more than $3 million rehabilitation work at the island’s air transport facility.

Some $3.4 million in total Capital Improvement Project funds and grants from the Federal Aviation Administration have been earmarked for the much-awaited repair of the Rota International Airport runway.

Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona has been persistently clamoring that CPA 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.

Executive Director Carlos H. Salas, Staff Engineer Juan Sablan, Airport Facilities Chair Roman Tudela and representatives from design consultant Winzler & Kelly will hold a pre-bid conference at the Rota International Airport today.

The conference has been called to present information to potential bidders on the project specifications and the specific materials that must be used to meet FAA runway standards.

CPA has scheduled the deadline for the submission of bids on October 6, 2000. The submitted bids will be opened on the same day, according to ports authority officials.

“This is an important step towards a more comprehensive upgrade of the Rota’s airside facility. Once work on the existing runway is finished, we can start looking at steps toward the eventual extension of the runway,” said Mr. Salas.

He added that the first step in this process is the completion of an environmental study to find out possible adverse impacts a larger runway may have on the adjacent area.

Apparently irked by the delay in the commencement of the project, Mr. Manglona told CPA officials that the airport runway improvement project remains the local government’s number one priority. “We must get the project constructed. We cannot wait any longer. We are losing our patience.”

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 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 $3.1 million.

The need for rehabilitation of the Rota airport’s runway was first raised when Continental Micronesia permanently suspended Boeing 727 turbojet service to the island, citing reasons of lower braking effectiveness.