Debris clearing along Beach Road may be done by next week

Beach Road, Saipan’s most famous thoroughfare and a favorite spot for locals and tourists to take photos of the island’s breathtaking sunsets, is likely to be cleared of all typhoon debris by next week.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang said his office is working with the Department of Public Works and the Department of Public Lands and Natural Resources’ Division of Parks and Recreation in cleaning up of the iconic roadway.

A government employee directs traffic while other workers clear the Beach Road area in front of National Office Supply as part of recovery efforts after Typhoon Soudelor uprooted many of the trees on Beach Road. (Jayson Camacho)

Apatang said that sectors have been divided among the agencies to be taken cared of. The Saipan Mayor’s Office has the duty of clearing Beach Road from Quartermaster toward the south end, DPW has Quartermaster leading to the north end, while Parks and Recreation has been cutting down branches and collecting them to be disposed of.

“So it is a wide collaboration between different agencies. We started right after the typhoon by clearing areas that were blocked off from the main road and pushed debris to the side,” he said.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office has about 15 staff working on the clearing. Apatang noted that Best Sunshine International, Ltd. is paying about 23 additional employees to help the mayor’s office.

“So we have more than 30 staff now that is under my office, thanks to BSI and hopefully we are done with the clearing by next week. We’re trying to make it go back to a scenic view as it once was,” he said.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office also handles clearing work from the Quartermaster traffic light in Gualo Rai to the Chalan Kiya traffic light leading to the Northern Marianas College traffic light area. They also handle clearing responsibilities from the Quartermaster Beach Road area to Atkins Kroll intersection. From there they are also conducting clearing from the Joeten Kiyu Public Library traffic light area to the Susupe Beach Park.

He said his office is also responsible for the area from the Chalan Piao traffic light area up to Airport Road. At the southern end, the mayor’s office is tasked to clear debris from Mobil Koblerville to the As Perdido traffic light and from As Perdido to Shell Dandan.

The other departments handle Beach Road and Middle Road heading northbound.

Apatang said although his office is concentrating on debris cleanup, they still receive calls within the villages for debris removal, mostly trees blocking pathways or lying on top of their homes.