The Department of Public Works has a plan to mitigate what has become one of the worst flooded areas of Tuala uta, the section of the highway between Argosy University and Saab Pago.
In the heavy rain the past few days, the water had reached up to the windows of small sedans.
Motorists have complained bitterly about the damage the water has caused to their vehicles.
Deputy Director of Public Works Falava’i Taase says they are hoping to put in a second soak pit that’s double the size of the one there now.
At the moment they are working with land owners who are willing to let the government use part of their property for the temporary fix.
Taase says the landowners want to make sure the solution they are proposing will work and will not cause other problems.
Taase explained that the soak pit that was put in at that spot was adequate however with so much silt washing into the system, the soak pit has to be regularly maintained to remove the build up and let the water go through.
He pointed out that the present representatives of Tuala- uta, Vui Florence Saulo and Sam Meleisea and the faipule elect, Larry Sanitoa from the time he was in the Fono before up to now, have constantly knocked on Public Works doors to do something about the badly flooded roads of Tuala-uta.
A more permanent solution for the lake between Argosy and SAAB Pago would use the same design as in Ottoville but three times bigger.
However at present there’s no funding for the project which Taase estimated would cost more than $2 million.
Taase was happy that the flooding in front of the Ottoville LDS Stake Center has been addressed but he said with an ASPA project to place powerlines underground, theres also the problem of silt buildup in that system so Public Works also has to do some maintenance work there to allow the water to flow through.
Taase said the soak pit for the Happy Valley road is working.
