Widened off-ramp creates danger

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Some motorists using the recently widened Punahou Street off-ramp say a new lane configuration is causing near-misses among drivers changing lanes.

State transportation officials said they plan to restripe that section of road in the next couple days to resolve the problem.

The state recently widened the off-ramp to allow two lanes of freeway traffic to enter the off-ramp instead of one, helping keep traffic flowing along H-1. It is the busiest off-ramp on O'ahu, with nearly 30,000 vehicles using it each day.

Drivers were accustomed to using the right lane of the freeway to enter the off-ramp before deciding which lane to use to head toward Manoa, Punahou or Waikiki.

Now that there are two lanes entering the off-ramp, drivers are now switching lanes at freeway speeds to get into their designated lane, prompting near-misses among drivers.

Area resident Brian Kimata said his wife nearly got into an accident when a driver suddenly cut her off on the off-ramp.

"I think the driver got into the right lane, realized he needed to be on the left side of the on-ramp to head to Manoa, and changed lanes," Kimata said. "It gets dangerous, however, when one driver is changing lanes and the driver in the other lane is entering the off-ramp at freeway speed."

State Rep. Ed Case, D-23rd (Manoa) said he wanted the state to install more road signs warning drivers about the lane change, or restripe the off-ramp to prevent lane changes after a certain point. The state decided on the latter option, said transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali.

The widening project should be finished in late October, Kali said. A second right-turn lane exiting the off-ramp onto Punahou Street will be open by then.

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.