Ground was broken Wednesday for the airport expansion project, which marks the first phase of a $200-plus million dollar project to build a new, upscale, and larger terminal for Pago Pago International Airport.
A large crowd of ASF officials—including the Governor, lawmakers, Congresswoman Uifaatali, and airport users—witnessed the ground breaking ceremony. The project will shift and extend the existing parking lot into the area where the fuel tanks were previously located, as part of the current lot will be used for the planned new terminal building.
Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Fiatamalii Apulu, offered the invocation. Director of Port Administration Barney Sene addressed questions regarding why this major airport expansion is beginning with the construction of a parking lot. 
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Three companies submitted bids: McConnel Dowell, Silva Group, and Paramount Construction, with the latter emerging as the successful bidder.
Sene said the selection was based on four criteria: bid price, project delivery over the last 2-3 years, work quality, and the design capabilities and experience of the company.
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The total cost of the parking lot project, according to information provided by Sene to KHJ News, is $10 million—$8.8 million for the construction contract awarded to Paramount Construction and $1.7 million for construction management awarded to Woolpert Inc. 80% of the cost is funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA) and 20% by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Sene acknowledged former director of Port Administration Taimalelalgi Dr. Claire Poumele, who was present at the ceremony, for initiating the parking lot expansion project in 2016 with the relocation of the fuel tanks. He also acknowledged Port Administration’s Chief Engineer Natalia Palamo, Chief Procurement Officer Fred Ledoux, his staff, and both the FAA and ARPA Office.
Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula said the parking lot expansion is another step forward in the administration’s efforts to modernize and improve critical infrastructure that serves the people.
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The parking lot is expected to be completed by the end of next year, after which construction of the new terminal is to begin.
