"Today we prove that route 36 and this bridge is a route to somewhere," NMI Gov. Arnold Palacios said.

The Department of Public Works unveiled the Windward road/Kalabera road improvements on Saipan, paving the way for residents to loop around the island.

Our report from last March shows how far the project has come to connect Saipan roads. Then-Governor Ralph Torres, whom Palacios invited to the ceremony but did not attend, toured the area with the media when it was 35% complete at the time.

NMI Dept. of Public Works Secretary Ray Yumul said, "The improvements include 11.5 feet wide of travel lines, 4.5 feet wide shoulders for bike lanes on each side, roadside and road drainage crossings, permanent traffic markers and signs, concrete walks, and culverts…this is the biggest challenge for the project."

Images provided by the project’s contractor RNV Construction show the project area before and after construction, costing just over $15 million. Phase 2 of the project includes 1.67 miles of all-weather roadway along the northeastern coast of Saipan.

The construction began two years ago, but the project was first introduced almost two decades ago.

"This will open up a lot of opportunities for landowners in this area. This will open up recreation also, tourism," Gov. Palacios added.

NMI Lt. Gov. David Apatang said, "As soon as route 36 is open for public access, I am sure it will be a busy route. Motorists will drive on this route to see this side of the island, which has remained inaccessible by car for far too long."

Federal Highway Administration Hawaii Division territorial representative also expressed support for the project. Gabrielle Gersh, P.E., said, "It is interesting for me to be able to come out and see this beautiful road actually built from the paper, from all of the design, from all the construction change orders, and from all of the federal paperwork that DPW has to deal with to actually come out and make sure the public would be able to access this area from now and into the future."