Road Paved, bus stops added near subdivivions
Written by Arvin Temkar
Pacific Daily News
Residents of Gill Baza and Zero Down areas in Yigo have waited years for the access road to their subdivision to be paved.Their children would hike the rough, gravelly road to get to their bus stop, which for some was a mile-and-a-half from home. During rain it was sometimes preferable to cut through the jungle than brave the mud-filled potholes.
Yesterday the Department of Public Works officially cut the ribbon to the freshly paved, smooth road, and introduced two new bus stops that are far closer to the subdivisions.Before, Public Works buses wouldn't travel down the road for fear of damaging the buses.
"It's a very emotional time for me," said former Sen. Telo Taitague, who authored the 2010 legislation that cut the path for the road's construction. Public Works Director Joanne Brown said $800,000 was set aside for the project, but Public Works, which performed most of work itself, only spent about $425,000. The three-and-a-half months of road work was the first construction project Public Works performed with its own workers in a decade, she said. Nippo Corp. provided the final layer of asphalt for the road.
New projects
Gov. Eddie Calvo introduced legislation yesterday that would appropriate the remaining funds for road projects in Mongmong-Toto-Maite and Mangilao. Calvo said Public Works has "proven its capacity and ability to repair village streets themselves." What they're lacking is equipment, he said.
The governor said he would request about $3 million in surplus funds from the closure of the Ordot dump to be used to purchase heavy equipment and supplies for the department.
Sidewalks
There aren't sidewalks on the new project, which could be a concern, said Treammo Hadley, 17, who lives in Zero Down. She's noticed cars speeding down the road recently.
Brown said there are 15 mph signs posted. Plus, it won't be as much of a danger for children, because they will not have to walk all the way up the road to reach their former bus stop.
Inner Roads
"We've been waiting a long time, praying for this road to be paved," said Hadley, who was walking her elementary-school age siblings down the street. Still, the roads inside the Gill Baza and Zero Down subdivisions remain unpaved.
The island's Emergency Medical Services operations commander has called the inner roads the worst on the island, as far as populated areas go, according to Pacific Daily News files. Emergency vehicles can only drive four to five miles per hour on those roads.
The fact that the main access road is finally paved is a major improvement for emergency access, said Yigo mayor Robert Lizama.
Mohan Bhojwani, the owner of the Zero Down subdivision, has said he is under no obligation to pave the inner roads, according to PDN files.
The attorney for Cyfred Ltd., the Gill-Baza developer, has also said the developer has no duty to pave the roads. Public Works said it isn't responsible for those roads either.
Pacific Daily News
Residents of Gill Baza and Zero Down areas in Yigo have waited years for the access road to their subdivision to be paved.Their children would hike the rough, gravelly road to get to their bus stop, which for some was a mile-and-a-half from home. During rain it was sometimes preferable to cut through the jungle than brave the mud-filled potholes.
Yesterday the Department of Public Works officially cut the ribbon to the freshly paved, smooth road, and introduced two new bus stops that are far closer to the subdivisions.Before, Public Works buses wouldn't travel down the road for fear of damaging the buses.
"It's a very emotional time for me," said former Sen. Telo Taitague, who authored the 2010 legislation that cut the path for the road's construction. Public Works Director Joanne Brown said $800,000 was set aside for the project, but Public Works, which performed most of work itself, only spent about $425,000. The three-and-a-half months of road work was the first construction project Public Works performed with its own workers in a decade, she said. Nippo Corp. provided the final layer of asphalt for the road.
New projects
Gov. Eddie Calvo introduced legislation yesterday that would appropriate the remaining funds for road projects in Mongmong-Toto-Maite and Mangilao. Calvo said Public Works has "proven its capacity and ability to repair village streets themselves." What they're lacking is equipment, he said.
The governor said he would request about $3 million in surplus funds from the closure of the Ordot dump to be used to purchase heavy equipment and supplies for the department.
Sidewalks
There aren't sidewalks on the new project, which could be a concern, said Treammo Hadley, 17, who lives in Zero Down. She's noticed cars speeding down the road recently.
Brown said there are 15 mph signs posted. Plus, it won't be as much of a danger for children, because they will not have to walk all the way up the road to reach their former bus stop.
Inner Roads
"We've been waiting a long time, praying for this road to be paved," said Hadley, who was walking her elementary-school age siblings down the street. Still, the roads inside the Gill Baza and Zero Down subdivisions remain unpaved.
The island's Emergency Medical Services operations commander has called the inner roads the worst on the island, as far as populated areas go, according to Pacific Daily News files. Emergency vehicles can only drive four to five miles per hour on those roads.
The fact that the main access road is finally paved is a major improvement for emergency access, said Yigo mayor Robert Lizama.
Mohan Bhojwani, the owner of the Zero Down subdivision, has said he is under no obligation to pave the inner roads, according to PDN files.
The attorney for Cyfred Ltd., the Gill-Baza developer, has also said the developer has no duty to pave the roads. Public Works said it isn't responsible for those roads either.