DPW poised to award $5.57M for 7 projects

Over $5.57 million worth of contracts for seven long awaited projects that include a $2.788 million road construction on Rota will soon be awarded by the Department of Public Works, citing the need to prioritize road safety—with or without the economic crisis.

Also included is the Marpi public cemetery whose $1 million contract was supposed to be awarded to GPPC Inc. when the project was put out for bids over five years ago.

Public Works Secretary Diego B. Songsong said yesterday that DPW would also soon start soliciting bids for the multi-million Cross Island or Back Road improvement project that would create a new highway from San Vicente to Capital Hill on Saipan.

“We haven’t seen much highway projects for the past years. We are now concentrating on moving these projects which have been on the planning [stage] for so many years, including the Cross Island project,” Songsong told Saipan Tribune in an interview.

He said many of the roads on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan are in bad condition and therefore pose dangers to the public.

“We are concerned with the safety of motorists and pedestrians. Hopefully, by us constructing safer roads, we will drastically reduce if not eliminate accidents on the road,” he added.

DPW recently awarded a $148,155.97 contract to RPM Construction for the construction of a Laulau pathway (phase 1) in Kagman. A notice to proceed was set for March 10.

The project, which is expected to be completed in 120 calendar days, involves the construction of a concrete pathway and the installation of pavement markings and signs.

Songsong said seven projects are currently under contract processing, the biggest of which is Rota’s Route 11 or the Sabana Road and drainage improvement, fully funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.

GPPC Inc., which bagged the construction contract worth $2,788,800, has 270 working days to complete the project once DPW signs the contract and issues the notice to proceed.

The project involves the construction of approximately 5,280 linear feet by 24 feet wide roadway, and is 12 feet lane on each direction.

Songsong said this project is in addition to the ongoing Route 101 construction on Rota “which will soon be completed.” The construction cost is $988,800, he added.

DPW is also now processing a $1,385,000 contract for Maeda Pacific Corp. for the construction and improvement of Route 201 on Tinian. The bids were opened on Feb. 6.

“This project is also funded by DOT’s Federal Highway Administration, and Maeda has 240 working days to complete the project after notice to proceed is given,” said Songsong.

Tinian has an ongoing road project on Route 202 worth $1.38 million, and Songsong said this is expected to be completed this summer.

Also under process is a $52,224 contract to Misamis Construction for the construction of pavilions at the Chalan Kanoa Beach Park on Saipan. This project is funded by the local government.

Songsong said Pacific Cooperation Ltd. will soon be awarded a $30,000 contract for the pavement markings in Precinct III-Chalan Monsignor Guerrero and Chalan Pale Arnold intersection on Saipan.

The locally funded project, which is expected to be completed in just 30 calendar days from the issuance of a notice to proceed, consists of applying pavement markings within the vicinity.

Another contract under process is a $17,488 contract that will go to Resources Management International Corp. for the repair and renovation of the Pakpak Beach Park pavilions on Saipan. The locally funded project will take 60 days to complete.

The DPW secretary said they will also soon award an over $300,000 contract to DK Brothers for the Anyuta Island Revetment project, near the west harbor on Rota.

Songsong said the Marpi public cemetery has long been stalled due to funding problems, among other things.

“The bid came out in 2002-2003, and the contract was supposed to go to GPPC Inc. Because so many years passed since then and the escalation of prices, GPPC gave us a revised cost for the project. Right now we are reviewing that to see whether it’s reasonable,” he said.

He said the Marpi cemetery project is a priority, given that the Mount Carmel public cemetery is now almost filled to capacity.

DPW is currently advertising for the Commonwealth Health Center perimeter fencing project funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the supply, delivery and installation of additional lighting for the Capital Hill Baseball Field, which is locally funded.

Songsong said the biggest DPW project that will soon be advertised is the Cross Island or Back Road improvement project.

“We are just waiting for the U.S. Department of Transportation to give us authorization to advertise for the project construction. We know that many Saipan residents have been waiting for years for this project to start,” he said.

Also to be advertised soon is the procurement of collateral equipment for the Rota Health Center.