Sinlaku damage collapses key stretch of Beach Road pathway

The Department of Public Works says a major portion of the Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway—from the Oleai intersection to First Hawaiian Bank—has collapsed, with Secretary Ray N. Yumul calling the damage catastrophic following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

Yumul said the agency is now working on multiple fronts to secure funding and fast-track reconstruction, including tapping Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance and federal highway funds, noting the pathway also serves as a protective buffer between the shoreline and Beach Road.

He explained that beyond being a recreational trail, the elevated pathway plays a role in shoreline protection, helping prevent erosion from encroaching onto the road. DPW is assessing which federal funding source can be accessed quickest to begin rebuilding.

The damaged stretch has been or will be cordoned off, with Yumul urging the public to stay away for safety reasons as the collapse leaves no buffer between the roadway and pedestrian areas.

“I’m asking the community to avoid the area,” he said.

Yumul added that while Sinlaku may not have matched the peak intensity of past storms like Yutu or Soudelor, its prolonged duration—bringing days of sustained winds and rain—likely weakened structures and contributed to failures across the island, including sinkholes and roadway damage.

Run Saipan president Edward Dela Cruz said the destruction has deeply affected the island’s running community, which relies heavily on the scenic pathway for exercise and events.

“It’s very sad to see the level of destruction that this typhoon caused,” Dela Cruz said.

He noted that runners have already begun adjusting, using the beach sand or alternative routes to stay active, though organized events such as 5Ks have been paused due to safety concerns. The pathway has long been considered one of the safest and most popular running areas on Saipan, hosting many of the group’s events.

Dela Cruz expressed confidence the government will eventually rebuild the pathway, even if it takes years, emphasizing the community’s resilience in the meantime.

Run Saipan member Simon Necesito echoed the emotional toll, describing the pathway as a place of personal and collective significance for runners.

“Who knew that Sinlaku would be the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Necesito said.

He said the destruction of the pathway feels like losing a part of oneself, given the memories and routines tied to it, though he remains hopeful for eventual restoration despite the likelihood of a lengthy recovery.

“It feels like home for a lot of people,” he added.

Anne Bang, another member of Run Saipan, agreed with the sentimental value of the boardwalk as alluded to by Necesito.

“Twenty-three years ago, when I first came to this small island, I fell in love with this pathway at first sight. Beach Road was so beautiful and peaceful, lined with trees along the emerald ocean—like a shy island girl letting her long, full hair flow in the wind.”

Moreover, the ultra-marathoner said the Beach Road pathway doesn’t only hold running memories, but personal ones as well.

“This is the road where I met my beloved husband, where I walked with my children, and where I ran countless early mornings, covered in sweat. So many precious memories of my life are woven into this pathway. Seeing it destroyed by [Super] Typhoon Sinlaku breaks my heart, as if a part of me has been broken too.”

Bang said she truly hopes the Beach Road pathway, who according to her is one of Saipan’s most healing and beloved places, can be restored to its beautiful old self as soon as possible.