Construction Briefs
Construction Briefs
Samoa, American Samoa, Marshall Islands, North Marianas, Guam
Samoa
Samoa’s Faleolo International Airport was re-dedicated in mid -October following a $25.8 million renovation. The World Bank covered 75 percent of the project, AusAid provided an additional 4 percent, and the balance was funded by the Samoan government.
American Samoa
Newly available U.S. federal funds will be used to build new classrooms and to start the rebuilding of the government-operated aerial tramway in American Samoa. In fiscal year 1999, the U.S. Congress froze $2 million of the $10.1 million capital improvement project grant, saying the money would only be released when satisfactory efforts were made to pay off the government’s multi-million dollar debt to Hawaii hospitals. Much of that debt has been paid, and the local government’s $18.6 million loan from the U.S. government will pay off the remainder.
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Marshall Islands
Funding from the Republic of China (ROC) is fueling a mini-construction boom in the Marshall Islands. The provision of nearly $1 million in early November is supporting improvement work on outer island runways and much needed renovation of the old hospital on Ebeye island. Taiwan money is also supporting the nearly completed city hall complex for the Majuro Atoll Local Government and paving of the secondary roads in Majuro, following completion of a $14 million Japanese aid project for the main roads in the downtown area.
Northern Marianas
The Dept. of Public Works has issued construction permits for close to $10 million worth of building during the second quarter of last year. An economic report compiled by the commonwealth’s Central Statistics Division disclosed 82 building permits were issued by the DPW from April to June 2000, a 14 percent increase from the previous quarter’s 72 permits. Activities in the construction of commercial establishments pushed the sector’s growth in terms of dollar value by over 150 percent to $8.5 million in the second quarter from the previous period’s $3.2 million.
Guam
A sweeping set of projects will permit Guam’s A.B. Won Pat International Airport to offer lower operating costs to airlines, says Guam International Airport Authority executive manager Jerry Yingling. GIAA will begin extensive renovation and construction work on the property now that the U.S. Naval Air Station Agana complex has been returned to the Government of Guam. The more than 1,800 acres of land transferred from the U.S. Navy in late September has been designated for a combination of airport use, economic development, highway expansion and park and recreation areas.
