At the Saipan airport, the conversion of the taxiway into a temporary runaway, which is also FAA funded, is now complete.
The certification for the temporary runway is projected to be received in February next year, Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Efrain Camacho told the CPA board of directors during its meeting yesterday.
“Once the temporary runway is activated, the work to rehabilitate the main runway will begin and be completed in about one and a half years,” Camacho said.
Part of the funding will come from the stimulus funds through the FAA while the other funding source is the federal grant for airport improvement projects, he added.
According to Camacho, the main runway will still be operational to accommodate aircraft larger than the 737.
“All aircraft, 737 and smaller ones, will operate out of the temporary runway when work is scheduled on the main runway,” he added.
Regarding the FAA funds, Camacho said the $1 million will be used to design a direct Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting vehicle access road to the runway from the taxiway at Tinian international airport.
The renovation of the existing terminal building and newly completed terminal building is being developed and the design is expected to be completed by mid-October, he said.
Construction will start around February next year, he added.
A tractor mower and pavement striping machine have been purchased with federal funds, he said.
“The bush between the runway and taxiway has been finally cleared and now there is line of sight between the runway and the taxiway,” Camacho told the CPA directors.
At the Rota international airport, Camacho said the $1 million will fund the completion of the ongoing runway shoulder construction and the purchase of a generator.
He said the terminal building is being re-painted, and there will be interior wall modifications. The clogged sewerline under the restaurant has finally been fixed, he added.
