Airport Road reconstruction set for next year,
feds won’t fund temporary fix
The Federal Highway Administration does not have funds to pay for a temporary fix of the Nu’uuli-Airport Road. This specific project is set to undergo major reconstruction next year and even if the road was resurfaced, it would be a complete waste of time and money because the entire area would have to be dug up again next year when the reconstruction project begins.
(A quick resurfacing job would cost more than $2 million and without federal funding assistance, the American Samoa Government would have to foot the bill through local revenues).
According to Public Works director Taeatoui Punaofo Tilei, ASG has asked the Federal Highway Administration for permission to use a portion of the federal funds earmarked for other local projects to resurface the Nu’uuli-Airport Road. But ASG was told that the money should be used to fund other urgent projects.
Taeaotui said that the design for the Nu’uuli-Airport Road is 50% complete and the reconstruction will include major additions and enhancements to the area’s current deteriorating condition. Once completed, the reconstructed road will feature three lanes from the Nu’uuli/Airport intersection to the Triple SSS Gas Station. From there to the Procurement Office turn off, the road will be expanded to include four lanes which will revert back to three lanes from the Procurement Office turn off all the way to the Tafuna International Airport.
FHwA representative Pat Phung who is based in Hawaii and recently returned there after visiting the territory told senators during a Fono hearing that resurfacing the area in question is not the way to go. “We need to do it right the first time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taeaotui said, the best thing for the ASG to do to prepare for the upcoming 10th Festival of Pacific Arts which opens locally later this year on July 20, is to carry out patch-up jobs.
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