Kagman residents now worried about over-speeding tourists

Now that the Department of Public Works is finally paving Kagman’s dilapidated roads, residents of the village are now worried that the improved thoroughfare will further embolden motorists—especially tourists—to speed up their ascent and descent to and from Forbidden Island, which could endanger the lives of residents.

“Now that it is being paved I am worried that the children who are crossing the road area or riding their bikes might have a problem, so I would ask Department of Public Works to put ‘Children Crossing’ signs,” Louie Camacho a resident of Kagman III at Chopak Drive said.

Hawaiian Rock construction workers are busy preparing Chopak Drive in Kagman III fo initial paying. Department of Public Works inspector Felipe Kapileo, far back, inspects and notes down what is being done. The first phase of project is set to be completed next week. (Jayson Camacho)

“Tourist are speeding here going to and from Forbidden Island. My God, sometimes they go probably 35 miles an hour. They’re zooming down on this road,” he added.

His wife, Mimi, said that they are concerned about the safety of their neighbors’ children.

“Sometimes they are playing on their bikes and they are only 7 years of age and they are just kids. Those tourists that come here are driving way too fast, like they think it is OK, but this is a residential area,” Mimi said.

Louie said that it’s not only the safety of children they are worried about, they also encounter a lot of tourists stopping by their house or other homes to ask for directions.

“It’s OK for them to do that, but they (DPW) still need to put signs because some may be nice about giving directions but sometimes when we’re busy it might become a bother. Signs need to be put up pointing to Forbidden Island,” Louie said.

One other resident, Melissa Halder, a mother of three children, said she is now stuck indoors because of the procession of cars going up and down the tourist hot spot.

“I let them (kids) stay in our yard, which is not too big, or inside the house because I worry for their safety. They have bikes and they love to ride them a little far from the house, but the tourist are just speeding down the road and I am scared if something happens [bad to them],” Halder said.

She said the government should plan on putting road bumps on the road leading up to the Forbidden Island lookout.

During the initial assessment of the road, Saipan Tribune encountered a convoy of three large rental vehicles that tourists use to speed up to Forbidden Island. However, one stopped and asked directions from one residence.

After getting proper directions, they sped toward Forbidden Island.

Hawaiian Rock construction workers were further down the road flattening and getting the roads ready to be paved eventually by Friday or next week.

DPW inspector Felipe Kapileo was at the site and told Saipan Tribune that residents need not worry because after the paving, signs will be put up such as crossroad signs and stop signs, but he didn’t mention road bumps or other signs relating to children crossing.

Initial groundbreaking for roadwork in Kagman kicked off last March 12 with Chopak Drive being the first project. Three other roads will also be paved, two in Kagman and one in San Vicente. Hawaiian Rock started road clearing for the project a month after the groundbreaking in early May.

Hawaiian Rock workers at the site said that they are almost done with Chopak Drive and have some other workers surveying Pine Drive.

The funding for the road-paving projects was made possible after Gov. Eloy S. Inos signed a local law in July 2014 appropriating more than $2.17 million in bond funds for Saipan projects. Of the $2.17 million, $600,000 went to the Precinct 5 road-paving project.