Posted on: Saturday, October 5, 2002

EDITORIAL
Wai'anae Coast traffic overdue for solutions

It happened again: different details, same result.

Not long ago, a utility pole snapped, in turn breaking two more poles, and the three then dangled from their wires, leaning dangerously across Farrington Highway in Nanakuli.

That was all it took to cause yet another massive traffic jam.

Does anyone think that's acceptable?

Two things need to change.

One is at least preliminarily getting started: a secondary route on the Leeward Coast, bypassing Farrington Highway.

The second is the undergrounding of utilities — electric, phone and cable TV wires.

True, it's unusual that these wires and poles interfere with traffic on Farrington Highway. But let's not forget that this is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the state. It doesn't deserve to be marred by overhead wires.