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Sanitoa works with DPW to obtain landowner's consent on road repairs

Tualauta Representative Larry Sanitoa has been assisting the Department of Public Works, in obtaining landowner's consent to have several soakage pits installed in the Tafuna/Ottoville Roads with the ongoing work meant to solve the area's flooding problems.

 

Sanitoa confirmed this in responding to Samoa News queries upon calls from Tualauta residents commending the Tualauta faipule for taking the extra step. He noted that the drainage pits will infringe on their land, but this is a necessary part of the new resurfacing work as a means to alleviate the runoff water.  The designs indicate that DPW is considering installation of three more soakage pits by the Cost-U-Less drainage as well.

 

The faille also gave an update on the 3R-Tualauta Resurfacing Project:

 

McConnell Dowell has completed the Fogagogo Road and has already started the Vaitogi Road. According to DPW Engineer Reuben Siatu’u, the project is progressing well ahead of schedule.

 

After the Vaitogi Road, they will then move to the Eastern side. The hot mix patching of several large and dangerous pot holes on the Iliili Road going towards the Airport and part of the Fagaima Road are also part of the resurfacing project.

 

“DPW has plans to extend the resurfacing work up on Aoloau/Pavaiai/Mapusaga Fou Roads as well. They are currently seeking additional funding from FHWA to address this and several other badly damaged roads throughout the island that are in dire need of repairs. In the meantime, DPW has started work on addressing the water runoff from the Pavaiai/Aoloau Roads. We did a site visit yesterday with DPW inspectors to begin the process of getting family approvals as DPW intends to run a drainage line from where the old American Industries used to be to the Mapusaga Fou stream,” said Sanitoa. 

 

TUALAUTA MITIGATION PROJECT

 

The Tualauta faipule also noted that he’s happy to report that Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga is looking into how ASG can move forward with this project and as mentioned earlier, this will help most of the flooding problems in Tafuna/Fagaima area.

 

“However, this will not solve all of our problems especially with the Ottoville drainage by the LDS church and the Hope House drainage. We have been working with DPW for the last four years now in trying to find a permanent solution for these two major problem areas.

 

Last year, DPW purchased a $300K vacuum truck to assist in cleaning these drainage.  Although it helped the water recede faster than usual, the problem is a bit severe and thus the drainage will have to be completely re-constructed”.

 

He further noted that the estimated cost to re-do the Ottoville drainage will be over $700K and for the Hope House drainage another $300K —and that DPW is working very hard to seek funds to resolve these problems once and for all.

 

Governor Lolo Moliga mentioned this problem during his speech at the Faasao Marist graduation commencement last month, reassuring Bishop Quinn and residents that this problem will be resolved very soon.

 

“DPW and many of us are working hard to try and address many of these flooding problems throughout the district.  We need to remember that in 1970, Tualauta had a population of only 3,671 and the current population is now over 22,000 according to the 2010 Statistical Year book. That is a 400% increase in just 40 years.  With the number of new homes being built recently in an area already densely populated, for the villages of Tafuna, Iliili, Pavaiai, and up at Faleniu, the flooding problems will become a recurring issue,” stated Lolo.

 

SECONDARY ROADS

 

“Now that the main roads have been fixed, our next huge task will be obtaining funds to address the numerous secondary roads in the district.  Roads like the two in Kokoland and Tafuna, the Faleniu road going down to the LDS church, the Iliili road in the back of the Golf Course, and a couple of other roads in Pavaiai and Vaitogi”.

 

“These roads serve a huge population within our district and will probably cost in the millions to get them professionally done. It is for all these pending road projects that I continue to remain hopeful that DPW will consider pursuing the GARVEE program under the FHWA,” said Sanitoa.