Pearl City facing roadwork
| • | Map of the planned project |
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer
PEARL CITY — A 15-month project to replace aging water mains and hydrants throughout Pearl City may aggravate traffic congestion along Kamehameha Highway when construction starts this summer.
Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials said the $4 million project will replace 8- and 12-inch water mains in many parts of the community. Engineer and project coordinator Lisa Lee said there have been 60 water main breaks in the past 25 years in the areas receiving new pipes.
"These mains being replaced are between 40 to 60 years old," Lee said.
Work has begun in some residential neighborhoods. But work on Kamehameha Highway this summer will require lane closures along a 1 1/2-mile stretch of highway that handles more than 40,000 vehicles a day. And it comes after area businesses endured two years of road construction along the same portion of highway to bury power lines and other utilities in the late 1990s.
Mimie Krakan, owner of Aloha Hairlines beauty shop at the Pearl City Business Plaza, 803 Kamehameha Highway, hopes the construction will not cause major traffic disruptions. Krakan said her business dipped the last time major road work took place from 1997 to 1999 to bury overhead electrical lines.
"Some of my customers couldn't get into the shopping center because they were digging the holes to bury the lines," said Krakan, who has operated her business there for 17 years.
"I hope the traffic doesn't get too bad that people stay away. As long as the customers have access, we should be OK."
Ideal Construction Inc., contractor for the project, has begun the first phase of construction on Kuleana Road, Kuleana Place and Kauhihau Place. That work should take three to four months.
The second phase will follow, with 8-inch water main replacements on First, Second and Fourth streets. New fire hydrants will be installed on Third Street.
Work then starts in late summer to replace a 12-inch water main along Kamehameha Highway from Ka'ahumanu Street to Waimano Home Road. That will take seven to eight months. Lee said initial plans call for shutting down at least one town-bound highway lane.
"Most likely we'll have to dig up the town-bound side of the highway, since most of the water main is on that side, so it's going to be a little tight there," she said.
Work along the highway will be done in smaller sections to minimize traffic disruptions, Lee added.
While the Kamehameha Highway work is scheduled for evening, Lee said the contractor is trying to get a permit to work during the day to minimize nighttime noise.
Crews also will replace a section of 4-inch main on the 'ewa-bound side of the highway near Hila Place.
Water supply officials and the contractor will notify any area customers before any construction work or water shutoffs, Lee said.
Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
