Tualauta faipule concerned over ASPA waterline project in his district

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “On behalf of residents and motorists,” Rep. Larry S. Sanitoa — in an email letter this week to American Samoa Power Authority executive director, Wallon Young — expressed “serious concerns and disappointment with the ongoing waterline project from Pavaiai, Faleniu to Malaeimi.”

“While I am pleased to see that ASPA is working diligently to address the aging waterline problem throughout the territory especially in the Tualauta district, I am most concerned that by solving one problem, we have now created a long term road and drainage issue within this road area after the ASPA's pipe project,” he said.

Sanitoa recalled that in March this year, Young testified at the House Committee hearing on ASPA that the Pavaiai/ Faleniu/ Malaeimi road will be back to its former condition after the excavation and installing the new waterline pipes by the contractor.

“Given that any major services project in the main carriageway of the road is very difficult, it is my understanding that the contractor — CTC — primarily needs to repair and replace what they've excavated and compact the fill material to the required specification as laid out in the FPO3 document,” he said. “The materials should be better than what they excavated.”

He informed Young that there are several trenches that were excavated but covered with lesser quality material or the same material. “Some of the trenches are already settled out or sinking,” Sanitoa noted.

With the Fono convening on July 10, Sanitoa requested that Young provide an update on the project including the timeline. The ASPA official is also requested to provide what solution(s) the contractor is taking to address the problem.

Young immediately responded, saying that McConnell Dowell will be paving all road cuts and re-paving parts that were not done properly. And the work is in progress.

He explained that the area around valve covers would be paved with concrete.  And that the Department of Public Works recommended concrete because compaction is difficult around and between valve covers.

“ASPA wants to pave the road ASAP but McConnell Dowell is working on other roads as well,” he said, adding that the contractor is currently paving the road to the late Alumamalu Filoialii's residence and beyond.

Young said he will provide an estimated completion date as soon as he meets with CTC and McConnell Dowell.

Samoa News notes that there have been public complaints — several posted on social media — regarding the condition of the road mentioned by Sanitoa. Traffic congestion is also a problem, as vehicles slow down to handle the road conditions.