$148K Lau Lau pathway project begins construction

Construction of the $148,155.97 Lau Lau pathway (Phase 1) project in Kagman began yesterday with a well-attended groundbreaking ceremony, but the Kagman Komunidat Association hopes that other concerns will also be addressed soon, including sewage woes, road pavements, illegal dumping and the abolition of poker parlors in the village.

“Thank you everyone for coming up all the way to Kagman [for the groundbreaking ceremony],” said Kagman Komunidat Association president Jesse Torres as he talked about the importance of the concrete pathway to the village.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Torres and other government officials at the ceremony spoke of the project’s role in helping individuals, couples, children and families stay healthy and fit by providing a pathway to walk on, jog, exercise or simply enjoy the outdoors.

“This pathway will provide more opportunities for Kagman residents, particularly the nearby homestead residents, to develop a greater sense of community in this area,” the governor said.

The pathway project, Fitial said, is also “a small but meaningful form of destination enhancement for our islands.”

“In other words, this will be good for our tourists and visitors as well, especially when you consider the enormous improvements at the Lao Lao Bay Golf Resort. Tourists staying at the golf resort will be able to make use of this pathway and interact with our local residents, promoting cultural exchanges and the warm hospitality of our local residents,” he said.

Fastest growing community

Kagman is one of the fastest growing communities in the CNMI, with a population now estimated at 5,000.

In recent period, Kagman has seen many new businesses putting up branches in the village, including Joeten Supermaket, the Post Office, Western Union, Hardt Eye Clinic and automated teller machines by First Hawaiian Bank and Bank of Guam, said Torres.

Torres said the Kagman Komunidat Association also recently wrote a letter to McDonald’s and J’s Restaurant, inviting them to open stores in Kagman.

July completion

The Department of Public Works awarded the $148,155.97 contract to RPM Construction for the project, which involves the construction of a 5-foot wide concrete pathway extending up to 360 linear feet, and the installation of pavement markings and signs and pedestrian crosswalks. It also includes the Department of Public Safety’s Fire Station driveway enhancement and a concrete drainage system.

RPM Construction has until July 9 to complete the project.

Public Works Secretary Diego B. Songsong said this is only the first of DPW projects to begin construction this year. DPW’s Technical Services Division provided the project’s architectural and engineering design.

“This project is very significant to the Kagman community, and we want to see it move forward and completed on time. We’re happy with this project because it will provide people a place to walk on or exercise,” Songsong said.

Rep. Edward T. Salas said the pathway construction is a project he followed up since he first came into office.

“I am very happy that it is now a reality. It is another venue the residents of Kagman and visitors can utilize to walk, jog or just exercise to improve their physical being. Instead of driving downtown, the residents of Precinct 5 can now enjoy a sidewalk that is safe to use for their exercises,” he said.

Speakers and guests at the ceremony also thanked Rep. Justo Quitugua, Rep. Rosemond Santos and the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation for securing funding for the project through Saipan Local Law 15-11, as well as Saipan Lau Lau Bay Golf Resort, the Kagman Komunidat Association, DPW, and RPM Construction in making the project a reality.