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Retainer wall will prevent flooding at NMI museum
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Posted on Feb 13 2009
A retainer wall that would solve the problem of flooding at the NMI Museum of History and Culture will be built soon, according to museum director Robert Hunter.
Hunter said the design for the project has already been approved following recent meetings with the Department of Public Works and the Division of Environmental Quality officials.
Hunter said the retainer wall, which will be built at the existing drainage along Middle Road, would prevent the flow of water during heavy downpour.
Most of the water comes from the Sugar King Park.
“We hope that this would soon solve our problem,” Hunter said.
He said the Legislature was able to utilize funds for this project from the budget for the precinct in Garapan.
The estimated cost for the construction of the wall is from $15,000 to $17,000.
The Museum is operated under the Saipan Municipality.
It will be recalled that heavy downpour flooded the museum in October last year, forcing the management to temporarily close the area for visitors.
The flood brought several inches of water and mud into the exhibit area and administrative offices.
The museum houses many of the CNMI’s valuable items from the past. Its bank of artifacts include treasures from different foreign governments—the Spanish, German and Japanese periods to the Trust Territory and the present Commonwealth.
Visitors and scholars can visit the area to study artifacts like old canoes, jars of all shapes and sizes, exhibits, gold pieces, World War II relics and memorabilia, and other pieces of history.
