By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
A COMBINATION of capital improvement project or CIP funding and allocations from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration will help the Department of Public Works move forward with road hazard mitigation projects, DPW Secretary Ray N. Yumul said.
He was responding to a letter from Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, who relayed reports from “several citizens” about unsafe road conditions on a stretch of Isa Drive from the San Vicente Post Office to Facey Farms, and on Middle Road from the Mobil Oil station in Tanapag to Marpi.
According to the mayor, the road markings in these areas need repainting. He said the markings “faded over time, raising concerns about the safety of motorists and pedestrians.”
The mayor also reported that the portion of Middle Road in front of the Kensington Hotel in San Roque has “little to no lighting,” creating unsafe conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists both day and night.
These reports, Camacho said, came from residents participating in his “See Something, Say Something” initiative. He added that his office “is fully committed to supporting this initiative and stands ready to assist DPW in any way necessary to address the concerns of our community members.”
In his response, Yumul noted that DPW has been coordinating with Precinct 4 Rep. Joel Camacho and Rep. Malcolm Omar, who had previously raised the same concerns. The department has also been working with CNMI CIP Administrator Elizabeth Balajadia, PE, and her staff to leverage CIP funding alongside federal highway allocations for roadway hazard mitigation projects.
“We are leveraging as much federal funding as possible to accomplish these works,” Yumul said, adding that the mitigation projects now exceed $1 million in cost.
He explained that because the projects rely on federal funding, DPW must complete detailed engineering plans and obtain approvals from federal agencies before work can begin. Yumul also noted that Gov. David M. Apatang has repeatedly expressed strong support for prioritizing these necessary road repairs.
Focus on secondary roads
Yumul suggested that the mayor’s office focus on assessing and maintaining secondary roads on Saipan. He said DPW has implemented a program to stockpile excavated materials and milled asphalt from ongoing road construction projects. These materials are available for use in repairing secondary roads, which fall under the mayor’s office’s operations.
DPW has secured an “overabundance” of backfill materials and ground asphalt, which are also available for residents seeking to improve pathways within or leading to their property.
Yumul said this initiative eases the financial burden on both the mayor’s office and residents while providing economical and practical solutions for restoring roads affected by heavy rains. He also noted that enhanced monitoring and reporting from the mayor’s office will support DPW’s ability to maintain roads and allocate resources effectively.
“We look forward to continued collaboration as we address these critical public safety concerns,” Yumul said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
