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DPW: Tun Antonio Road excavation is CUC’s responsibility
A sedan uses the opposite lane to drive through a curve along the Tun Antonio Apa Road in Finasisu last Wednesday to avoid an excavation dug up reportedly by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (Mark Rabago)
For weeks now, residents of Fina Sisu and students of Northern Marianas College have had to contend with an excavation right smack on a curve of Tun Antonio Apa Road.
Some residents have complained that the excavation has become a nuisance and could even lead to an accident since motorists going south have to use the other side of the road to avoid the rectangular hole that is already several inches deep.
Ariel Drilon, 47, of Fina Sisu said he always slows down when he reaches that point of the road because of the excavation. What puzzles him is after work was done on the road a few weeks back, the workers responsible for excavating it didn’t return to fix it.
Menchu De Jesus, also of Fina Sisu, said the excavation has now become an obstacle and an eyesore. She said there were a lot of times she had to wait for oncoming traffic to drive by because the two-way street has effectively become one way.
Saipan Tribune contacted Department of Public Works Secretary Martin Sablan regarding the issue and he said the excavation is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., whose staff worked on a water pipe in the area.
“I didn’t know the road there is still dug up. We need to go back to CUC. I will send our highway inspector up there. I want him to take pictures and stuff and send it to CUC. They dug it up and they’re responsible for putting it back to how it used to be.”
Sablan said the maintenance of Tun Antonio Apa Road falls under DPW’s purview and asked the public to alert his department if they have problems with their village roads.
“I’ll contact CUC because it’s their responsibility. They have put it back to its original configuration. If it’s taking them too long, I’ll tell them to hurry up,” he assured.
Martin and DPW can be reached at 235-9570.
