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ONCE CONTRACT PROCESS GOES THROUGH
4 Kagman roads soon to be paved
Responding to complaints of the Kagman community about the neglected state of their roads, the Department Public Works is well on its way to choosing a contractor that will pave four Kagman III roads.
Department of Public Works’ highway administrator Ben Cabrera told Saipan Tribune that once the contractor is hired, Kagman III residents will finally see improvements in their roads.
The four roads that will be fixed are Chopak Drive, Katbun St., Pine Drive, and Mangga St.
“What I can say now is that the contract still needs to be done. The document has to go through the branches of the government before they give the ‘notice to proceed’ and do the project,” he said.
Cabrera also disclosed that the lowest bid received by DPW was in the amount of $506,466.94.
The money came from some $2.7 million that the Legislature appropriated in July this year, of which $600,000 went for the paving of Kagman roads.
Cabrera said they are now in a construction administration process, which means every authority that needs to sign the document will have to do so to move the project forward. After that, they will then move into the construction phase and then the construction management of the project.
“If the contract is signed, the contractor will have 240 calendar days—eight months—to do the project. But it won’t be focused on all four at one time, because they are in different areas. The contractor will start in one area and later move to another area,” he said.
Rep. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) disclosed to Saipan Tribune that the lowest bidder for the project was Hawaiian Rock Products.
Kagman III roads have always been a longstanding problem for residents in the area, who drive through large potholes created by the rain, constant dust that causes health hazards to children walking from schools, and disintegrating car tires both old and new.
To alleviate these roads’ condition, Precinct 5 Reps. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) and Antonio Agulto (R-Saipan), with the help of the Saipan Mayor’s Office, have been either grading these roads or plugging potholes with asphalt.
