By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Department of Public Works has completed a temporary repair on a portion of San Juan–Bird Island Road (Route 36) in Marpi.
DPW Secretary Ray N. Yumul said he sent an engineering team to the area immediately after seeing a Variety news article reporting an incident involving a tourist driving a rented vehicle on the road. The owner of QQ Car Rental told Variety that the vehicle grounded due to a roadway defect and required towing.
On Feb. 13, 2023, the rocky middle section of the road was scraped and is now passable, Yumul said.
“The highway engineering team we sent to the area has completed temporary stabilization work on the damaged portion of Route 36 following the news report,” he said.
Upon inspection, Yumul said, DPW’s Roads & Grounds Division, working in coordination with highway engineers, identified the issue as a roadway depression with bulging sections of asphalt — a sign of underlying subgrade movement and water intrusion common in the Marpi corridor.
He said the DPW engineering team brought aggregate base materials, heavy equipment, and compaction machinery to fill, level, and stabilize the affected area. “This temporary fix restores safe drivability and reduces the risk of further vehicle damage,” he said.
“Our team acted to address the hazard and ensure the safety of residents and visitors. This temporary stabilization allows us to keep the roadway open while we advance the federally required process for permanent reconstruction,” Yumul added.
He said that once approval from the Federal Highway Administration is secured, DPW will advertise the project for competitive bidding and proceed with full, permanent reconstruction of the affected segment. In the meantime, motorists are encouraged to exercise caution when traveling through Marpi, and Yumul thanked the public for their patience.
He also asked rent-a-car companies to educate drivers about the temporary fix and to exercise caution on unpaved roads, especially during heavy rain.
Federal funding support
Yumul said the permanent reconstruction of Route 36 is supported by federal infrastructure funding, including an $850,000 allocation announced on July 21, 2023, as part of a $6.9 million federal funding package awarded to the CNMI. The funding, he said, was secured through the efforts of then-Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
“These Route 36 improvements are being advanced under the FHWA Territorial Highway Program, which provides both funding and oversight for long-term upgrades to the CNMI’s highway system,” Yumul said.
Because Route 36 is part of the Territorial Highway System, permanent repairs must follow FHWA stewardship and oversight requirements, he added. DPW is currently advancing architectural and engineering design work in-house, along with environmental and permitting documentation, FHWA review and approval submissions, and bid-ready construction plans.
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.
