During the project several obstacles are identified that are preventing progress. What should the project manager do to remove these obstacles?

The project manager's primary responsibility when obstacles arise is to address them directly and effectively. Implementing plans to remove obstacles is the most proactive and direct approach, demonstrating leadership and problem-solving. While prioritizing obstacles for resolution is a necessary step in the planning process, it's not the ultimate action; the action is implementation. Escalating to the steering committee might be necessary if the project manager lacks the authority or resources to resolve the issue, but it should not be the first or only step. Having the team work on other tasks avoids the problem rather than solving it, potentially delaying the project further and leaving the core issue unaddressed.