Monday, February 06, 2017

$1.2 billion in buildup projects started so far

About $1.2 billion in projects related to the Guam military buildup have started or are complete, according to the latest annual report by the military on the status of the Guam realignment.
The Fiscal 2016 report, by the Interagency Coordination Group of Inspectors General for Guam Realignment, states about $543.1 million has been spent on those projects so far, with about $662.4 million to spend before they are complete.
As many as 5,000 U.S. Marines will relocate from Okinawa to a new base to be built in Dededo. The military plans to use some islands in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as well, primarily for training. The Marine relocation is part of a bilateral agreement by the United States and Japan, and Japan is helping pay for the $8 billion move.

Two of the biggest projects on the list so far — $125.67 million to construct a firing range complex at Northwest Field; and $309 million for utilities and site improvements at the new Marine Corps base at Finegayan — started last April and June, with only about $31,000 spent by the end of the fiscal year. The military, in 2014, spent $3 million to design the firing range, the report states.
The report also notes that $164.5 million in civilian projects related to the buildup — such as infrastructure and port improvements — also have started, with about $83.6 million spent on those projects so far.
As an example, the military so far has spent $9.83 million to replace the Agana River bridge, along Marine Corps Drive, the report states.
One of the largest civilian infrastructure projects, a $63.93 million project to improve Route 3, started in June 2015, but has not yet incurred any costs, the report states.
The new Marine Corps Base will be built along Route 3, which also is the most direct route from that base to Andersen Air Force Base, from which Marine air units will operate.

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