Coral Tree Avenue to be paved soon

Motorists passing along the rough portion of Coral Tree Avenue in Garapan need no longer feel dismayed at the potholes and dust coating the roadway as construction work is expected to be finished soon and the road paved smooth by the end of next week.

Department of Public Works project coordinator Bill Wanket said yesterday that the construction crew would begin paving the road on Jan. 28, a project expected to be completed in two days.

Construction along Coral Tree Avenue in Garapan has been ongoing for almost two months now.

The project has been divided into two sections, with one being the southern part of the road from the mall intersection, while the other is the northern section.

Wanket said the current work being done is on the southern part. Since the start of the project, construction crews have demolished the sidewalk on the western shoulder of the road, as well as encroachments.

In addition to the pavement, sidewalks along the eastern shoulder of the road would be installed beginning next week and should be completed by mid-February.

“Preparations for that are being done now,” Wanket said.

He said construction on the northern part of the road would begin soon and would be similar to the work done on the southern part, including the installation of gutters.

The Coral Tree Avenue project, estimated to cost about $1.8 million, is part of the Garapan Revitalization Project, which, when completed, would feature about 100 trees along the strip situated just east of Hyatt Regency Saipan and Dai-ichi Hotel Saipan Beach in Garapan, as well as construction crosswalks for pedestrians, among others.

A planting strip for flame trees and rainbow shower trees will be included on the western side of the road, while scrambled egg trees and coral trees will be featured along the eastern portion.

Three pedestrian crossing walkways will be constructed along the road using brick pavers instead of the usual white markers, and stop signs will possibly be placed at each crossway, Wanket said earlier.

The Coral Tree Avenue project is expected to be completed on July 3, 2005.

The Revitalization Project aims to transform the downtown Garapan area into an attractive and safe focal point for tourist and resident activities, including strolling, outdoor dining, outdoor musical entertainment, and festivities.

Construction moved to Coral Tree Avenue shortly after completion of the Paseo de Marianas pedestrian mall in November of last year.

The government said this project would generate at least $200 million in revenue for the government within the four-year period of the revitalization.