DPW Secretary B. Diego Songsong said for first time in CNMI history, five major highways will be constructed simultaneously, adding that the administration will continue to move aggressively on infrastructure projects.
2009 is an election year.
These federally funded road projects will include the $1 million Route 101 on Rota for which DPW has already issued a notice to proceed to the contractor; the $1.5 million Route 202 on Tinian which is now being constructed; the cross-island project’s Phase 1 on Saipan, the design for which has already been submitted to federal authorities; Route 201 on Tinian; and Route 11 on Rota whose designs are now awaiting approval.
Songsong said once the designs for Route 210, Route 11 and cross-island’s Phase 1 are approved by federal authorities, construction will start next year.
“So imagine the three islands having all these progress simultaneously,” Songsong said, adding that residents of Tinian and Rota have been waiting for these road projects for a long time now.
Songsong said he credits Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, for expediting these infrastructure projects, which can stimulate the economy on the three major islands.
The construction alone, Songsong said, will allow more locals to have jobs in the private sector.
The CNMI, he added, has five construction firms that can handle these projects.
