DPW defends road project
Construction of raised median along the ongoing road project in Tanapag and San Roque is intended to make the four-lane highway safe for both the pedestrians and motorists, according to Public Works Sec. Juan B. Cepeda.
Responding to the complaints aired by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, the DPW chief maintained safety is the primary consideration for placement of these raised medians which the lawmaker considered obsolete and a waste of money.
Mr. Cepeda said the design of the project has taken into account all factors which may appear inconvenient for residents, but are necessary to ensure public safety as well for those using the highway that is an extension of the Middle Road.
“Please be assured that this highway design was not developed to inconvenience anyone, but rather to protect our residents from any accident that could be reasonably anticipated,” he told Mr. Torres in a letter.
Mr. Cepeda also said that the Federal Highway Administration had approved the design of the road expansion since it entirely funded that phase of the project and almost 70 percent of its construction costs.
The representative earlier had expressed concerns over the design of the Chalan Pale Arnold phase 5 road project, noting that some residents in Tanapag have complained that their driveways have been blocked by raised medians.
Mr. Torres also cited several road intersections on Saipan where there are no raised medians, but have proved to be no problems for motorists, indicating that this design is “obsolete and dangerously ugly.”
Disagreeing with his contention, Mr. Cepeda said the number of traffic accidents and vehicular mishaps is higher at intersections without the medians.
“Our opinion is that along busy sections, four-lane highways and at intersections, the separation and organization of vehicular traffic is absolutely necessary to provide an adequate level of safety,” he explained. “The only method we are aware of to accomplish this is through the use of raised medians.” (BS)
