Road closure for XTERRA, Tagaman races

Saipan bikers pose in front of an XTERRA Saipan trail sign during a practice ride a few weeks ago. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

With the 2014 XTERRA Saipan Championship and Tagaman Triathlon just around the corner, race organizer Taga, Inc. and the Department of Public Safety are advising motorists and pedestrians on specific road closures.
XTERRA will be held this Saturday and the race will start at Micro Beach, which will be closed from 5:30am to 8:35am. Only cars with passes will be allowed to go through this area. Other areas that are off limits to the public during certain times are the intersection on Capitol Hill at Isa Drive and Asencion Drive to Magellan Club/Wireless (from 7:30am to 9:35am); the paved road to Talafofo from Kingfisher left turn to Egigi Drive (7:45am to 9:35am); the left hand turn off Capital Hill at Sara Market II (8am to 9:55am); Chalan Galaide or the upper Navy Hill road from Mt. Tapochao to Delafield (8:15am to 10pm); Middle Road and Sugar King Road (9am to 10:45am); Micro Beach and Middle Road (9:15am to 11am); Middle Road near National Guard Yard, crossing Anak’s (7am to 10:30am); and Middle Road between Sugar King and the old Japanese prison and hospital (8am to 12:30pm).

For the Tagaman, which will take place on April 12, the following roads will be closed: Pacific Islands Club to Koblerville, Chalan Msg. Martinez, Coral Ocean Point, intersection of Flame Tree Road, and Tan Herman Pan Road (from 5:30am to 8am); PIC to Garapan Fire Station’s northbound (6am to 8am) and south bound (one lane, 7am to 11:30am); Micro Beach to the AMP tennis court intersection (6am to 11:30am); and Chalan Pale Arnold or W2 highway at AMP tennis court intersection to La Fiesta and As Matuis turnoff (outside lanes closed from 6:30am to 10:30am). Inside lanes on these areas (both south and northbound) will be open to limited traffic and police officers will designate lanes.

The Marpi Road (Chalan Pale Arnold to Chalan Kalabera, Bird Island Lookout, Grotto, and Banzai Cliff) will also be closed from 6:30am to 9am.

“We are seeking everyone’s cooperation as the XTERRA Saipan Championship and Tagaman Triathlon have been looked upon as very safe events,” Taga, Inc. president Wolf Mojica said in a memo sent to all concerned parties.

Both XTERRA and Tagaman are expected to lure on and off-island participants. Some pros who competed in XTERRA Guam are now on Saipan and a press conference is scheduled two days before the race kicks off. (Saipan Tribune)