Detours set up for Kailua sewer project

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

The $16.8 million first phase of a sewer reconstruction project on Kalaheo Avenue in Kailua will resume Monday, closing the road all day during the week and to all but local traffic on Saturdays for the duration of work expected to last a year.

Traffic will be rerouted from Kuulei Road to Kainalu and Kainui drives and from North Kalaheo Avenue to Kainui and Kainalu drives 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

One lane of Kalaheo will be open to northbound traffic only after 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and all day on Sunday. The other lane will be used for construction storage.

After 30 days the community and the contractor will re-evaluate this traffic plan, said Ben Lee, city managing director.

The project stalled three years ago when the previous contractor ran into rock-hard coral. The new contractor, Westcon Microtunneling Inc., is aware of the situation and has taken steps to reinforce its equipment, Lee said.

"We learned from our first contractor," he said. "We've done additional soil boring. The contractor knows that there is solid coral shelf around 30 feet below street level."

This project is one of three scheduled for Kailua this year that will affect traffic in the community. Already under way is a $25 million sewer project for Kainehe Street, and Hamakua and Keolu drives. A $1.9 million project to place wires underground on Kailua Road is expected to begin soon.

The first phase of the Kalaheo project, from Kainui to Dune Circle, is scheduled for completion in March 2004, Lee said. The second phase from Dune Circle to Kailua Road and costing $17.6 million will begin once the first phase is completed.

The first phase, to replace 4,300 feet of 36-inch pipe with 48-inch pipe, will be done with microtunneling where the contractor bores under the road about 20 feet deep from concrete pit to concrete pit, Lee said.

The contractor will begin with preliminary work, including locating water and utility lines, surveying and installing markers, he said. Microtunneling should begin by the end of the month.

The project is necessary to improve and increase the size/capacity of sewer lines as well as replace deteriorated portions of the line, according to the city.

For more information about the project visit the Web site www.kalaheosewer.com. The project hot line is 386-0163.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.