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DPW outlines FHWA-funded road projects; senators press for status of Rota quarry equipment
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Summary
DPW told the Senate it has multiple Federal Highway Administration projects in design and construction phases, including Route 10 hazard-elimination and Route 103 design; senators pressed department officials for a status report on quarry equipment in Rota that was purchased to supply aggregates for local projects.
Department of Public Works officials told the Senate that several Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) projects are moving forward and that DPW is awaiting FHWA approvals or construction bids for multiple island projects.
DPW listed projects that include: Route 10 hazard-elimination phase 2 with approximately $3,900,000 in FHWA funding awaiting FHWA authorization to advertise for construction bids; a Route 103 (Doogie Road) design with an estimated construction cost of about $15,000,000; Route 205 road and drainage improvements on Tinian funded at $2,500,000 with a notice to proceed scheduled for Sept. 22; and several smaller road-safety and drainage projects that DPW said have roughly $500,000 in FHWA funds allocated for planning and improvements.
Senators asked about construction delays caused by a lack of locally available quarry materials and pressed DPW for a clear status on quarry equipment purchased for Rota under a grant. DPW officials said they did not know whether the equipment was operational after delivery and that the municipality of Rota has taken possession of some equipment. Senators asked DPW to coordinate with the Office of the Governor’s Management (OGM) and the Office of Geology and Mining (OGM/OGM name repeated in hearing) and provide a one-page status report on the quarry equipment: where it is, when it arrived, cost, and operational readiness.
Why it matters: Lack of local aggregate supply raises the cost of construction and can jeopardize schedules on federally funded road work. Senators flagged the possibility that imported material costs are inflating project budgets, creating a risk to project delivery and federal reimbursements.
DPW also reported that a previously terminated contract for an earlier Route 10 project was in legal negotiation with the contractor and bonding company; DPW said it had terminated the contractor and notified the bonding company, with construction to resume once the bonding company secures a replacement contractor.
