Major 'Ewa artery downsized
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Central Bureau
'Ewa residents who for years have anticipated the construction of a six-lane "north-south" road to alleviate commuter gridlock will instead get a scaled-down version of the original project.
The 2.5-mile road, which would run from 'Ewa Beach to Kapolei to access the H-1 Freeway, now will have two or four lanes for traffic instead of six, according to state Department of Transportation officials.
The state DOT will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. today at the Kapolei High School cafeteria to discuss the project.
State planners estimate it will cost $90 million to build the road, along with an interchange to hook up with the H-1 Freeway. An additional $5.3 million is needed for design and $15.8 million for land acquisition.
Residents living in 'Ewa Beach and the 'Ewa-By-Gentry subdivisions have been begging for another way out of the area for the past decade. Drivers face a dozen traffic lights along Fort Weaver Road each morning to get to the H-1 Freeway and into town.
The latest plans call for an interim two-lane north-south road.
"Based on the absence of a closer UH-West O'ahu campus and trying to keep the construction costs under $90 million, we're considering a two-lane road for now and adding another two lanes later," said DOT spokeswoman Marilyn Kali.
Construction tentatively is set to start in late 2004, with planning work completed by mid-2002.
State transportation director Brian Minaai told state legislators at a hearing last month that the north-south road would take lower priority following the downsized plans for the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu campus.
But state Rep. Willie Espero, D-41st ('Ewa Beach), said he does not believe that is the case after recent talks with Gov. Ben Cayetano.
"I understand cost is an issue, but I would like to see them start the project already, even if it's just two, four lanes," Espero said.
Over the years, the north-south road has been delayed and reconfigured for a variety of reasons.
'Ewa Beach residents learned in 1999 that the north-south road — originally to run north to south and parallel with Fort Weaver Road — would instead turn west and end in Kapolei, two miles west of 'Ewa Beach.
State officials that year had hoped to complete the road by 2003, but the discovery of a native endangered plant in the project area delayed construction. A drainage issue now needs to be settled before work can begin.
'Ewa Neighborhood Board chairman Jeff Alexander said if the project finally gets under way in 2004, he would like to see the original six-lane road.
"I'd like to see the new drawings before commenting, but this is the state's third or fourth reincarnation of the project," Alexander said.
Tonight's DOT meeting also will present updates on the Kalaeloa Airport and the Kalaeloa Deep Draft Harbor project.
Kali said improvements to Kalaeloa Airfield tentatively are scheduled to begin in September 2002. They include resurfacing and restriping the runway, replacing the runway/taxiway lighting and installing new signs.
State officials tonight also will discuss security at Kalaeloa Airport. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, AKAL security officers have been conducting around-the-clock perimeter fence patrols at Kalaeloa.
Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
