THE Department of Public Works will close Hibiscus Lane to the public due to the unsafe condition of the tower cranes on top of the unfinished Imperial Pacific International casino-hotel building in Garapan.
Hibiscus Lane is the street between Joeten and IPI in Garapan and is directly below two of IPI’s three tower cranes that have been deteriorating since the construction of the casino-hotel stopped three years ago as ordered by the federal court.
In an interview on Monday, DPW Secretary Ray N. Yumul said the Commonwealth Casino Commission, the regulatory body governing the lone casino operator on Saipan, had yet to respond to his request for an authorization to inspect the abandoned IPI construction site.
DPW’s building safety inspectors want to assess the condition of the electrical, mechanical, and standard components of the building, including the tower cranes.
“I will be issuing an emergency road closure of Hibiscus Lane, the road between Joeten and IPI, until further notice,” Yumul said.
He said this is in line with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ declaration of Tropical Storm Condition No. 2 for Saipan.
“I do not anticipate reopening the road until after a physical check of the integrity of the tower crane or unless it is taken down,” Yumul said.
He added that he is also discussing legal options with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure the safety of the public.
In a separate interview, Jesse Aquiningoc, the former IPI employee tasked to operate and maintain the tower cranes, said they have a life span of up to six years provided that proper maintenance is being done. Right now, he said, there is zero maintenance on IPI’s tower cranes that are already rusting.
Asked if any of the tower cranes could fall because of a typhoon, Aquiningoc said no. He said what is left of tower crane No. 6 is the mast, which is attached to the unfinished building. Tower crane No. 5 may fall only if the lock in the brake between the arm and job boom is not released, he added.
Aquiningoc said he believes the lock in the brake has been released already so the arm and jib boom of the tower crane will just follow the strong wind. He reiterated that it would be more dangerous if the crane’s brake is still locked.
Tower crane No. 5 at the unfinished Imperial Pacific International casino-hotel is seen on Hibiscus Lane, across from a commercial complex in Garapan.
