DPW plans pathway expansion from park to seaport

The Department of Public Works is planning to expand the pathway from the American Memorial Park to the Saipan seaport, which would extend by about 1,400 meters.

The Coastal Resources Management Office has issued the DPW a conditional permit for the project, giving the latter up to 34 months to complete the construction from the time of its commencement. The CRMO said the DPW should commence construction work within 18 months from the issuance of the permit.

The DPW received a copy of the permit Friday. CRMO director Joaquin D. Salas said the DPW should obtain all necessary permits from other regulatory agencies, submit the permits to his agency, and obtain from the agency a “notice to proceed” before the department could actually begin construction work.

Other regulatory agencies that the DPW needs to secure permits from include the Environmental Quality, Fish and Wildlife, and Agriculture divisions, and the Historic Preservation Office.

The proposed expansion will begin at the American Memorial Park where the Industrial Drive intersects with the Marina Road.

As described in the permit, the pathway will head east towards Chalan Pale Arnold Road and turn north parallel to the southbound lane. At the Commercial Port Avenue, the pathway will turn west and connect to the existing concrete walkway that leads to the CPA seaport guardhouse.

The CRMO imposed conditions along with the permit, including the implementation of dust and earthmoving control measures during construction work. “The taking of sand, gravel, or other aggregates from the beach or nearshore areas is prohibited.”

The CRMO also directed the DPW to coordinate with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. on the location of all buried utility lines to ensure that construction work would not interrupt with utility services.

The permit also empowers the CRMO director or his designee to conduct inspections at the project site during construction.

“Work must be performed in a precise manner and at the precise locations indicated in the subject application as conditioned by this permit. The project is subject to review for compliance with this permit. Substantial violation of any term or condition shall be grounds for its revocation or suspension,” Salas stated in the permit.

“Should circumstances having direct and significant impacts on coastal resources arise in the future which were unforeseen at the time of this decision, the CRM Program may require that corrective action be taken to mitigate the impact of those circumstances,” he added.