Roadwork hits high gear

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•	Map: City and state roadwork projects

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Get ready for more gridlock in Honolulu.

Even as the city prepares for the reconstruction of King Street, expected to snarl traffic through downtown Honolulu for a year, nearly a half-dozen other projects are under way or are being planned.

These secondary projects have the potential to further tighten routes in and out of downtown and raise the specter of creeping through one construction zone only to be confronted with another blocks later.

Just two weeks after announcing the King Street project, the city will start work tomorrow on a separate project along North King Street in Kalihi. The $929,000 "vision team" project consists of sidewalk improvements, installation of new street lights, handicapped curb ramps and planting of trees.

The work is expected to require sidewalk and lane closures only blocks away from a street-resurfacing and water-main replacement project on North King Street in Chinatown that will also restrict traffic flow. At the same time, other projects are planned or are under way on Punchbowl Street, Ala Moana Boulevard, Dillingham Boulevard and the H-1 Freeway.

The number of projects and their potential to strangle traffic has some commuters questioning whether they'll be able to get around Honolulu during rush hours and at lunch, when many downtown workers do errands.

"I hope they realize that some people's livelihood depends on access or getting around in a reasonable time," said Jodie Yoshina, a receptionist for a small downtown courier business. "People are getting a little worried whether this is going to work."

City Department of Design and Construction director Rae Loui and other administration officials say they are intentionally scheduling projects at roughly the same time so the work won't be prolonged over years' time.

"The water mains and utilities have to go in, so we may as well come in and rehab the streets at the same time," Loui said.

"But we do hear the drivers' concerns; we're hoping they can help us out by telling us if something goes wrong. We have a plan to deal with traffic flow, but they need to tell us in reality if it's working out."

Motorists have been grumbling for months about the widening of Punchbowl Street between Beretania Street and Vineyard Boulevard. Loui said the city wants most of the Punchbowl work finished before school starts in September, but there is still expected to be an overlap of the Punchbowl project and the King Street work, restricting traffic on two of downtown's major arteries.

"I don't know if we can keep everyone happy," said Rod Haraga of KFC Engineering Inc., a firm that oversees many city street projects. "We will do our best to keep traffic flowing."

A Board of Water Supply project to install a 24-inch water main along King Street, from Liliha Street to River Street in Chinatown, followed by repaving, is expected to start next month. The stretch of King Street through downtown handles nearly 30,000 vehicles a day.

Later this year, the city will begin repaving King Street from Bethel Street to South Street and build handicapped curb ramps for pedestrians and new concrete bus lanes. Work is scheduled to be finished next July.

Crews are starting related drainage improvements on King Street near Kawaiaha'o Church this week, with construction from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., with possible lane closures.

In September, the Board of Water Supply will install a 42-inch water main along Dillingham Boulevard, from King Street to Waiakamilo Road. That project is expected to run until next June, restricting traffic on yet another main thoroughfare into and out of town.

An ongoing state project to redevelop the Kaka'ako area continues along Ala Moana Boulevard and Kamakee Street, forcing some lane closures. And the widening of the Punahou Street ramp off the H-1 Freeway, as well as work on the Kapi'olani Boulevard off-ramp, has also backed up traffic.

Haraga said having Royal Contracting Co. as the contractor on both the King Street and Punchbowl Street projects may make troubleshooting easier.

"It'll make it easier to coordinate with them if there is a problem with either project, and we have to make traffic adjustments," he said.

City officials last week began distributing fliers to area businesses about the North King Street sidewalk project, which borders Tamashiro Market, Ka'iulani Elementary School and Kaumakapili Church.

"For the short run, it will be an inconvenience for drivers and pedestrians," said Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board chairwoman Bernadette Young. "But it's time we fix it and make the area more attractive with new lights and landscaping. Something had to be done."

Haraga said newsletters will be sent to area businesses on construction updates, and a roadwork Web site will be connected later this week with the city's Web site.

A hot line for downtown King Street construction has been set up at 479-7952.

Scott Ishikawa covers transportation issues. You can reach him at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.