Fagatogo Representative Maugaoalii Leapai Sipa Anoai is requesting the Executive Director of the American Samoa Power Authority Utu Abe Malae to make road improvements in the Bay Area, specifically the town of Fagatogo a priority .
Maugaoalii in summing up a meeting he had with Utu and his staff said he has continued to call for improvements in the Bay Area such as the Fagatogo roads, sewer line, and more importantly the historical Pago Pago Harbor and its significance because it is the area which represents the rest of the territory to visitors.
He attached photos showing, “deplorable conditions of the road” which runs behind the Fono stretching to the Tool Shop building, and said they are reason for Utu’s immediate attention and action.
Maugaoalii said, “McConnell Dowell has recently completed the laying of the main sewer line system from Aua to Utulei, which has left the road in an undesirable and unsatisfactory conditions. (KHJ News points out that the contractor for this job is Fletcher Construction)
“As you are aware CEO, this area of American Samoa is the first point of contact with people from Samoa, and other islands of the pacific, as well as visitors from around the world.”
He asked Utu to prioritize these roads and move to repave and improve them in a timely manner.
It’s not known why the Fagatogo faipule raised his concerns about the road with the ASPA Executive Director and not Public Works.
But he notes, that at a House hearing with Public Works Director Faleosina Voigt and her staff he asked Voigt to identify and qualify this area for funding under the Federal Highway Administration program.
Maugaoalii said according to Director Voigt, DPW is going to help improve these road conditions “and prayerfully ASPA can work with DPW to see this through.”