Major reconstruction of the main road in town
contracted for over $8 million
The numerous potholes on the bumpy stretch of the main highway extending from downtown Fagatogo to the Pago Plaza will eventually be a thing of the past once the contractors are finished with it.
The reconstruction of the this area of the main highway has been discussed for a while and finally, the Federal Highway Administration has given its nod of approval to awarding the contract to McConnell Dowell at a price of more than $8 million.
Public Works director Taeaotui Punaofo Tilei confirmed the news and said that negotiations on the final price concluded last week after lengthy discussions and numerous counter offers being thrown back and forth between DPW and the contractors.
A pre-construction meeting is set for next week and according to Taeaotui, if all goes well, the Notice to Proceed (NTP) will be issued shortly thereafter and the project, expected to take 12 months, will finally commence.
The finalization of the contract award comes after Taeaotui and the gang juggled with the possibility of breaking the project into two phases and proceeding that way.
But the final decision was based on efforts to keep the project as a single job instead of splitting it up, and constructing an asphalt road. Currently, McConnell Dowell is the only local company that can provide such services.
The new road will run from the Fire Station in Fagatogo to the Pago Plaza, which is the only patch of the main highway between Atu’u and Matu’u/Faganeanea that hasn’t undergone major reconstruction work in recent years.
The new road will feature sidewalks, designated areas for buses to pull in and out of, and necessary drainage improvement work.
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