Improvements coming to Four Corners ‘short cut’ to main road

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  Issues surrounding access to the unpaved road passing through the Fonoti family property, and further up to the Leapaga family land on to the main road in Malaeimi are reportedly resolved.

A letter last Thursday from Rep. Larry Sanitoa to Public Works director, Faleosina Voigt indicates that the road through Fonoti/Leapaga property will see improvements soon.

“I was recently informed by a family member of the Leapaga clan that all family issues regarding the access road from the Fonoti/ Fagaima Road intersection to the main road in Malaeimi have been resolved,” Sanitoa wrote.

He noted that American Samoa Power Authority chief operations officer, Lavatai Reno Vivao, has confirmed this as well, as “ASPA has an ongoing project to relocate their overhead power lines to underground conduits throughout this entire road area.”

“This is exciting and welcomed news, given the numerous efforts to get approval to use this road” — by the current and past administrations, including several former and current lawmakers, as well as individuals — “for the safety of families and residents of the district in the event of a natural disaster,” Sanitoa wrote to Voigt.

Sanitoa, along with his Tualauta colleague, Rep. Sam Meleisea, stand ready to assist DPW in any way possible on improvements for this access road. Samoa News understands that DPW officials briefed Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga last week on the latest developments for this access road, for which the government is looking at options for funding, including at the federal level.