Text Fwd: [Guam] Buildup Projects Detailed

Workers of Watts Constructors covers a newly poured form to shield it from a rain shower approaching their precast yard in Agat on March 18. About $1 billion in buildup projects are set to be awarded now that the Programmatic Agreement has been signed. / Rick Cruz/Pacific Daily News/rmcruz@guampdn.com

* Text from Martha Duenas on March 25, 2011

Pacific Daily News
Buildup Projects Detailed
Brett Kellman
March 24, 2011

Nine buildup construction projects that will create Marine facilities in Finegayan, Apra Harbor and Andersen Air Force Base finally can move forward now that the programmatic agreement has been signed.

Yesterday, Naval Facilities Marianas released a statement detailing some of the projects, which amount to about $1 billion in total cost. Projects can now be awarded to contractors, who can begin designing or building complexes that Marines will use when they relocate from Okinawa to Guam in coming years.

"The signing of the PA is an important milestone," said Joe Ludovici, executive director of the Joint Guam Program Office, in the statement. "We are looking forward to continuing to work with the people of Guam and the business community to deliver the requirements for the relocating Marines."

All of these projects were funded by either the federal government or the government of Japan in past fiscal years, but their progress hinged on approval of the programmatic agreement. Now the projects have all the funding and approval they need, so the military is ready to award the jobs.

Two projects were awarded last September but they could not begin physical work before the agreement was signed.

Of these nine projects, the most expensive projects will start work on the Finegayan Marine Base, the future home of about 8,000 Marines who will move from Okinawa to Guam.

According to Guam Buildup Office documents, which provided estimated costs for each of the nine projects, about $630 million of Japan government money will be spent to get the base started. This money will pay for two phases of utility installation and "site improvements" in Finegayan.

The first contract will be awarded this summer.

In addition to laying power, water and sewer lines, whichever companies are hired to do this work also will build primary roads, hang street lights, install communication lines and build two checkpoints that will allow access to the base, according online Navy procurement documents.

Andersen

The first phase of the project also includes construction of a new gate at Andersen Air Force Base -- along Route 9 near Machanaonao Elementary School -- which will allow Marines to access a new aviation training complex.

The aviation complex will be at a portion of Andersen Air Force Base called "North Ramp," which already houses Navy helicopter operations but has room for expansion. Ultimately, the Marine complex will consist of about 20 new buildings and about 25 stationed aircraft, according to the final Environmental Impact Statement.

Contracts for the groundwork for this aviation complex -- which consists of utility installation and aviation parking -- will be awarded in April.

These two contacts amount to about $111 million, but they are only the beginning of the money that will be spent at the North Ramp complex.

Final approval of the programmatic agreement also unlocks projects in Apra Harbor, some of which have been stuck in limbo for months.

Apra Harbor

The Guam Buildup Office documents show that the military plans to spend about $213 million on three or four projects -- wharf improvements, a military work dog facility, a waterfront headquarters and a medical clinic.

These facilities are part of a waterfront training complex that will be built in Apra Harbor, where Marines will practice amphibious assaults at least four times a year, for about three weeks at a time, according to the Final EIS.

About a dozen armored amphibious vehicles -- plus inflatable speedboats and reconnaissance rafts -- will be stationed on Guam, the final EIS states. Training sessions could attract larger vessels such as destroyers, cruisers and large amphibious hovercraft that are capable of carrying several military trucks.

Overall, the Marine facilities in Finegayan, Andersen and Apra Harbor have a long way to go, but the nine buildup projects that can now move forward will start work in all three locations.

"We are pleased that the Navy can move forward with some of the initial work," Capt. Peter Lynch, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Marianas, said in the statement. "These projects allow mission-essential infrastructure for the Guam realignment to proceed with a solid agreement to protect the valuable cultural resources on Guam and Tinian and stimulate economic growth in the region."