By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

MOTORISTS should avoid Route 15, the back road to Andersen Air Force Base, from the Macheche intersection to Gajinero Road intersection, for the next four to six weeks due to an ongoing road repair, according to the Department of Public Works.
DPW director Larry Perez said the project area covers 4.6 miles and will get rid of potholes in that area. This, he said, is part of the governor’s Island-wide Village Street Pothole Repair Program.
“The work includes milling the old asphalt material used during the war and resurface it with new industry standard on 11-foot wide lanes. It will be equipped with pavement markers and reflective paint,” Perez said.
Contractors working in the area will only allow local traffic. Perez said allowing regular traffic will delay the project.
“If we allow regular traffic to traverse there, it would take the project twice as long to complete. We find it more prudent and in the interest of the public to only allow local traffic. Contractors will close one full lane and cut the project time frame by as much as 50 percent,” he added.
North and south-bound traffic in that stretch of road will be directed by contractors.
“We advise the public to avoid that road and use other roads. Plan your day. You may want to go a little earlier as opposed to later. Expect that if people continue to take that road, traffic will be congested, so find an alternate route,” said Perez.
The contractor informed Perez that the project will last for four to six weeks. Motorists can expect to travel on a newly paved road on Route 15 sometime in April.
The total project cost is pegged at $2.2 million from local funds. Perez said the governor found the money through a 1985 Capital Improvement Bond.
“Based on monies not used in that bond and interest earned, the governor refinanced the money for $24 million worth of road projects island-wide,” he added.
Upcoming projects
Perez said the public could expect a lot of road construction in the next four years.
“Gov. Felix P. Camacho has been launching numerous projects. There are many more to come and we ask everyone to please pardon our progress,” Perez said.
When contractors are done with the Route 15 project, they will begin work in other areas, including Route 8A, towards Radio Barrigada in front of P.C. Lujan Elementary School.
“The other areas, Route 4 and Route 17 or the Cross Island Road, will be repaved through to the Camachile Store, and other roads like those in Ordot/Chalan Pago. These projects are a culmination of phase one, with phases two and three up and coming,” he told Variety.