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DPW ready for $12M Talafofo road project
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Posted on Apr 25 2006
The Department of Public Works is ready to start its biggest project on Saipan: the $12-million Talafofo Highway Project that is expected to boost tourism on the island.
DPW Secretary Jose S. Demapan said that, once they receive the environmental assessment conducted by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the department is ready to proceed with the project.
Demapan said the federally-funded project is pending because the Division of Fish and Wildlife has concerns with the presence of endangered birds at the location.
“We’re just waiting for that agency that is holding up that project,” he said.
Under the project, a highway will be constructed from the Kingfisher Golf Course area on Capitol Hill all the way to Kalabera Cave in Marpi.
“That would be very good scenic place also for tourists. It would increase the economic impact on Saipan. There will be more tourists,” he said.
Demapan pointed out that right now many tourists don’t visit Kalabera Cave because the road is very bad.
“With this project, they [tourists] can go from King Fisher’s Golf Course area all the way to Kalabera Cave,” he added.
When he assumed office at DPW early this year, Demapan trimmed down DPW’s operational costs by almost 66 percent by initiating cost-saving measures.
