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311-page highway master plan updates 1997 data
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Posted on Apr 23 2009
A new Comprehensive Highway Master Plan that updates the 1997 plan has been completed, according to Department of Public Works.
Joseph M. Inos Jr., director of DPW’s Technical Services Division, said the highway master plan is updated every 10 years.
He said just like the CNMI Territorial Transportation Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2009-2011 that didn’t receive any comment from Saipan, the master plan also received lukewarm response when they held a scoping meeting on Saipan in 2006 with only one member of the public showing up. He said DPW received comments on the master plan from Rota and Tinian during the scoping meetings.
Inos said the public can download a copy of the 311-page master plan at http://www.4shared.com/get/97350087/93db45a5/CNMI_CHMP033109.html.
The main objective of the document, finalized in March 2008, is to update the previous Comprehensive Highway Master Plan that was published in 1997.
It provides updated traffic data, and forecasts for future year conditions for Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Roadway segments and intersections were analyzed to estimate traffic capacity and levels of service.
The master plan reassesses previous accident data and provides the status of the recommended improvements from the earlier master plan.
“Based on public scoping meetings and interviews and discussions with DPW and other CNMI staff, further deficiencies and constraints in the existing roadway network were identified, and recommendations made for improvements,” the master plan said.
The 311-page data also recommends roadway improvements on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. On Saipan, for example, it recommends intersection modifications including those at the Chalan Monsignor Guerrero and Chalan Pale Arnold and Tun Herman Pan and Flame Tree Drive.
It also recommends the installation of new traffic signal at certain intersections, including Beach Road and Quartermaster Road, Beach Road and Gualo Rai Road, Beach Road and CPL Derence Jack Road, Beach Road and Micro Beach Road, and Beach Road and Tun Segundo Road.
