By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang, Department of Public Works Secretary Ray N. Yumul, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Rep. Roman C. Benavente, and Commonwealth Ports Authority officials on Thursday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the newly improved Naftan Road, also known as Route 301, and a portion of Flame Tree Road, or Route 304.
Funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the $7.1 million project involved paving two lanes with five-foot shoulders on each side along the 2.36-mile stretch of Naftan Road and a 0.26-mile section of Flame Tree Road east and south of Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
Yumul said the road improvement project also included several shallow ponding basins that run parallel to the roadway. Construction activities involved clearing, grading, bed preparation and paving.
Naftan Road, Yumul said, is an important east-west route connecting Obyan and Naftan and serves as the only access to Ladder Beach and Obyan Beach, two popular recreational beach parks frequented by both residents and tourists.
Governor Apatang said the completion of the project was personally meaningful.
“This means a lot to me. When I first came in back in the 10th Legislature, it had been my dream to get this road fixed for the people living in this area, the tourists, and the school buses that come here,” Apatang said.
He recalled how rough Naftan Road was years ago, noting that the estimated cost to improve it at the time was just over $1 million. The project ultimately cost $7.1 million.
“Just imagine how inflation raised the cost,” he said.
Apatang also recalled that during last year’s groundbreaking ceremony, the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios had told him he knew how long Apatang had been working to improve the road.
Finally, Apatang said, Naftan Road has now been paved for both residents and visitors.
“I’m sure there’s going to be more development here in the near future, and that’s what I’m looking forward to — so our people can locate here,” he said.
The governor congratulated DPW for its work and thanked the contractor, GPPC Inc., for completing the project.
Benavente said he has a long history of advocating for improvements to Naftan Road.
“This road was so bad, and it has been my passion to fix it — and we did it,” he said, adding that the governor, DPW and GPPC Inc. “did a tremendous job.”
Benavente said he would be remiss if he did not acknowledge his fellow Precinct 1 House members: Vice Speaker Diego Vincent F. Camacho, Rep. Roy Ada, Rep. Vincent “Kobre” Aldan, Rep. Raymond Palacios and Rep. Joseph Flores. He also thanked Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation Chair Rep. John Paul Sablan.
“I would like to commend them. Thank you all for putting this together,” he said.
Speaker Villagomez said the Naftan and Flame Tree Roads project, along with many others, “is a good example of what happens when we all work together.”
He thanked the governor, DPW, federal partners, CPA and other agencies involved in the project.
Noting the CNMI’s economic struggles and efforts to revive tourism, Villagomez said it is important to improve infrastructure now so the Commonwealth is better prepared when the economy rebounds.
“Let’s continue to work together, and I look forward to more groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings,” he said.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas joked that years of driving on Naftan Road had kept his old car in the repair shop, but said drivers with new vehicles will now enjoy the improved roadway.
“The only downside is we’ve got some people out there — the geniuses — who are going to come here to test this road. I’m talking about the Fast and Furious guys,” he said.
CPA Executive Director Esther Ada said Naftan Road runs along the airport’s secured perimeter and that completing the project required close coordination between CPA and DPW.
“The completion of this project is a testament to collaboration between DPW and CPA,” Ada said, noting that the agencies entered into a memorandum of understanding to allow the work to proceed.
Also present at the event were Labor Secretary Leila F. Staffler, Department of Public Lands Secretary Sixto Igisomar, Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Sylvan Igisomar, CPA Interim Chair Antonio Cabrera, CPA board member Bill Manglona, Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres, and Capital Improvement Program Administrator Elizabeth S. Balajadia, P.E.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
