Drive Time
State working to smooth Fort Weaver traffic flow

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Transportation Writer

In an attempt to move traffic faster along Fort Weaver Road, the major accessway for 'Ewa Beach and 'Ewa by Gentry subdivision residents, the state will try to better synchronize the timing of the road's 12 traffic signals.

Work for the $652,780 project will affect Fort Weaver Road between Laulaunui Street and Hanakahi Street.

Crews will replace traffic-signal heads and poles and install a system to synchronize all signals along the four-mile stretch of road. Construction will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time. Paul's Electrical Service Inc. is the contractor for the project.

Synchronizing the lights means that drivers traveling the speed limit on Fort Weaver Road would have the green light along the entire stretch. However, there is one big catch — there can be no motorists waiting on the feeder roads to trigger a red light.

Q. Does the state have any planned improvements along Fort Weaver Road to help deal with traffic?

A. Yes, but it won't happen anytime soon. The state has a plan to widen Fort Weaver to six lanes in 1,000-foot stretches near the intersections of A'awa Drive, Renton Road and Geiger Road. A similar plan would widen Fort Weaver near Laulaunui Street.

The design work for the two projects is scheduled for completion in 2002 and 2003. No construction money has been approved for either project.

Q. What else can be done?

A. State Sen. Brian Kanno, who represents the area, said he and other community leaders took an informal tour with state officials looking for ways to improve things.

One possibility discussed was using the shoulder lane during rush hour, Kanno said.

A suggestion to use an opposite lane of traffic as a contraflow lane to provide three lanes for rush-hour commuters does not look feasible, Kanno said.

Q. What's the latest work to slow down traffic?

A. Developer Gentry Homes is widening about 1,500 feet of Fort Weaver Road near the intersection of Kolowaka Drive.

Crews are widening the road from two lanes to three in each direction, beginning about 750 feet before the intersection and ending 750 feet past it.

Kanno and area state Rep. Willie Espero are sponsoring an Aug. 7 community meeting on Fort Weaver Road construction and other projects. The 7 p.m. meeting is at the 'Ewa Beach Public and School Library, 91-950 North Road. DOT officials are expected to attend. Call Espero's office at 586-6360 or Kanno's office at 586-6830.

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