'Ewa gets flashing crosswalk

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

'EWA — The 'Ewa Neighborhood Board wants a pedestrian-activated stoplight placed near a Fort Weaver Road crosswalk where a teenager was struck and killed last month.

But until state transportation officials decide on a permanent solution, a temporary flashing crosswalk device will be placed there by early next year to alert motorists of pedestrians crossing the four-lane road near the Child & Family Service 'Ewa office.

Despite previous votes by the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board to discourage adding more stoplights along Fort Weaver Road — there are already a dozen signals along the route because of increasing traffic and development — the advisory board voted unanimously this month for a traffic signal near the crosswalk that has been the scene of other pedestrian accidents.

Marilene Rongcal Bacani, 16, died after she was hit by a car July 9 as she crossed the road from West Loch Fairways to the city bus stop fronting the Child and Family Services building at 91-1841 Fort Weaver Road.

State Department of Transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said the flashing crosswalk features pedestrian-activated lights embedded in the crosswalk's borders to alert motorists that someone is crossing the street. The device was placed along Pali Highway at Jack Lane after a 2000 pedestrian accident, and remained there until the state installed a traffic light. The device was then placed along Farrington Highway in Wai'anae last year, where it remains though it hasn't worked since being vandalized.

"Because we're going to have to uninstall it and repair it, it may take some time before we can put it in 'Ewa," Kali said.

While Kali said it was too early to determine the cost for a streetlight and pedestrian signal at the Fort Weaver Road crosswalk, she said an average traffic light costs $300,000 to $400,000 to build and install.

Another option is a pedestrian underpass where Fort Weaver Road intersects Cane Haul Road. State Rep. Willie Espero, D-41st ('Ewa Beach, 'Ewa, Iroquois Point), said DOT officials put initial estimates for a Fort Weaver Road underpass at $2 million.

"Fort Weaver Road will eventually be expanded to six lanes, so the state was going to put in the pedestrian underpass anyway," Espero said.

'Ewa Neighborhood Board chairman Jeff Alexander said even if a traffic signal is initially placed there, it would be only temporary until the underpass is ready.

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2429.