Posted on: Tuesday, July 17, 2001
Commuting
Even Mililani gets the roadwork blues
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Transportation Writer
Traffic slowdowns are rare on the suburban streets of Mililani, but they've been happening more often with the recent city roadwork.
The city began a $2.3 million project in March that includes repaving and other improvements along all of Meheula Parkway and most of Lanikuhana Avenue, and the work has prompted some lane closures.
On the positive side, some Mililani residents (including myself) have already test-driven the repaved surface along Meheula Parkway heading toward the Mauka subdivision. So far, so good, guys. Q. What does the project consist of? A. It includes reconstruction of damaged concrete curbs, gutters, deteriorated pavement sections and final resurfacing. Q. Probably the most important question — when will the work be completed? A. Marvin Char of the city Department of Design and Construction said the entire project is scheduled to wrap up Jan. 6, 2002.
Contractor Grace Pacific is trying to complete the repaving of Meheula fronting Mililani High School up to Kamehameha Highway by the end of this week before classes start up again. Q. Where will the resurfacing take place? A. All of Meheula will be resurfaced. The repaving of Kuahelani Avenue will run from Meheula Parkway to Kamehameha Highway and continue along the other side of the highway to Hokuala Street.
Residents and businesses along Kuahelani Avenue between Meheula Parkway and Kamehameha Highway can expect the roadway resurfacing to begin two to three weeks after completion of the curb and gutter work.
• • • H-2 lights update — Harvey Cohen of Kawela Bay and other readers have inquired about the new streetlights being installed along the freeway from Mililani to near the Waiawa Interchange, where H-1 and H-2 converge.
"One evening, the lights were all on, and the highway was a pleasure to drive," Cohen wrote. "Since that time, the lights at night have been extinguished. I drive the road every night and it is one dark drive. Could you update the progress of the ongoing work?"
State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said contractor Hawaiian Dredging has been periodically testing the lights at night — a section at a time — after attaching the 30-foot-high metal poles and fixtures.
"They're only testing for now," Kali said. "The project is still scheduled for completion at the end of the year."
When the $4 million lighting project is done, the entire H-2 will be illuminated from the Waiawa interchange to Wahiawa.
Scott Ishikawa covers transportation issues. You can reach him at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
