DPW expects to spend $17M for ’08 projects

The Department of Public Works has lined up several federally funded highway projects for 2008 and estimates to obligate over $17 million in design, construction management and construction contracts throughout the CNMI.

DPW recently completed the Beach Road hazard elimination project, which was funded under the CNMI Territorial Highway Program through the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

The project included shoulder reconditioning, asphalt paving, installation of pavement markings, traffic signs, road guide signs and installation of guardrails at designated locations, construction of curb and gutter, ponding basin, inlets and installation of infiltrators to eliminate ponding along the shoulders of parts of Beach Road.

Several new engineering designs, construction management and construction contracts under the Federal Highway Program have been executed in 2008 and are currently ongoing.

Of the approximately $4.62 million allocation from the U.S. Department of Transportation for FY 2008, DPW has obligated approximately $1.9 million on its federal highway projects throughout the CNMI to date.

Projects include the engineering design of Route 10 and Route 100 shoulder repair, Route 202 construction management services, construction of Route 202 road and drainage improvements on Tinian, and the Route 101 construction management services.

The Route 202 road and drainage improvement notice to proceed was issued on June 16, 2008 to GPPC Inc. and work on this project is currently ongoing. DPW expects GPPC to successfully complete the work within the contract terms, conditions, and with the highest level of quality and performance.

DPW is currently finalizing the construction management service contract for the cross island Phase I reconstruction and upgrading project and will also be announcing two new construction management RFPs by middle part of this month for the Route 11 and the Route 201 road and drainage improvement projects on Rota and Tinian respectively.

DPW is also in the final stages of completing all project requirements and hopes to secure approval from Federal Highway Administration for the approval to advertise three new construction IFBs within the next few months. These projects include the construction of Route 201 road and drainage improvement, Tinian; the Route 11 road and drainage improvement, Rota; and the cross island road and drainage reconstruction and upgrade, Phase I.

Construction of Route 101 road and drainage improvement is currently in the bidding process and construction should begin as soon as the contract is reviewed, approved, and executed.

The planning of future road improvement and hazard elimination projects for FY 2009 through 2011 is ongoing. [B][I](JDLC)
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