By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
MILILANI — In another sign that the Mililani Mauka subdivision continues to grow, work to install a traffic signal at the busy intersection of Meheula Parkway and Lehiwa Drive could begin as early as next month.
Mililani Mauka developer Castle & Cooke Homes Hawai‘i Inc. is installing the light at an estimated cost of $150,000. The city will eventually take over the traffic signal when it is operational.
The bid process for the project will begin this month and construction will take about eight months.
The majority of the time will be awaiting the steel mast arms that hold the lights, which are built specifically for the intersection and must be shipped from the Mainland.
The stoplight is part of Castle & Cooke’s unilateral agreement in developing the subdivision.
"I am very pleased this project is expected to receive a green light soon from the city and county so we can move forward on it," said Alan Arakawa, Castle & Cooke vice president of development and construction. "The signal will certainly help the morning and afternoon commutes of parents with children attending Mililani Middle School, as well as make the intersection safer for children to cross."
Sgt. Fay Tamura of the Wahiawa police station said the growing Mililani Mauka community warrants the need for another light.
Another traffic light was placed at the nearby corner of Meheula and Makaikai Street in 1998.
"The light would help curtail speeding since it will be located on the downhill slope of Meheula (Parkway)," Tamura said.
Meanwhile, the state is installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Leilehua Golf Course Road between Mili-
lani and Wahiawa. That stretch of highway has been the site of four fatal accidents and several major collisions since 1997.
The traffic light will have a left-turn signal and should be operational by fall.
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