Saipan's tourism district getting major overhaul

It’s the first Economic Development Adminsitration grant to reach construction in the Northern Marianas. Saipan’s tourist district is undergoing a major transformation worth more than $11 million.

Chris Concepcion, Deputy Director, Office of Planning and Development, said, "We’ve begun marking and fencing the construction zone here at the Paseo de Marianas. This will become a two-way street."

And there’s a lot more. Construction will take place in four phases until 2024 to completely transform Garapan, widening its sidewalks, and creating new streets -- ultimately for a more dynamic district with a modern design. "All businesses and properties within the construction area are to have 24/7 access to their properties," he added.

A U.S. Economic Development Administration grant funds the $11.2 million project. USA Fanter is leading the construction. Concepcion explained, "The EDA has almost a hundred million worth of grants in the CNMI today…and we are the first ones actually to go out into construction."

The project comes amid the Commonwealth’s financial crisis with deficit spending of local and federal funds. "This is going to transform the Garapan core area into the world-class tourist destination that we have always wanted," he said.