70 road projects set to begin

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

From the H-1 Freeway in Honolulu to Moloka'i's Kamehameha V Highway, the state Transportation Department says it is planning to spend more than $200 million on new highway and maintenance programs in the coming year.

Regular Highway Division projects expected to begin some time in the next 12 months include everything from widening the H-1 Freeway to 12 lanes in Waimalu, to repairing 50-year-old bridges, to routine projects such as improving drainage in flood-prone areas near state roads.

A recently released schedule of work shows nearly 70 projects scheduled to go to bid or begin construction in 2004, said DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

O'ahu and the Big Island have the largest projects scheduled, but there is something for every island, including a $2.7 million project to resurface Manele Road from Lana'i City.

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Something for every island

Here's a look at some of the top projects by island, including their estimated cost and projected starting dates.

O'ahu

• Kalaniana'ole Highway, emergency landslide repairs at Castle Junction: $7.8 million, January.
• H-1 Freeway westbound, widening from Waimalu Viaduct to the Pearl City off-ramp: $65 million, March.
• Kamehameha Highway and Kahekili Highway, roundabout demonstration project: $315,000, June.
• Fort Weaver Road, widening near Laulaunui Street: $5.4 million, March.
• Pu'uloa Road, improvements from Kamehameha Highway to Salt Lake Boulevard: $14.3 million, July.
• Farrington Highway, improvements from Nanakuli to Makaha: $6.2 million, February.
• H-1 Freeway, extension of the morning Zipper Lane from Pearl Harbor to Ke'ehi Interchange: $4.4 million, December.
• Kalaniana'ole Highway, realignment near Makapu'u: $650,000, January 2005.

Hawai'i County

• Hawai'i Belt Road, Kealakaha Bridge replacement: $20 million, February.
• Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, widening from Henry Street to Kealakehe Parkway: $20 million, October.
• Kawaihae, road resurfacing: $9 million, May.
• Hawai'i Belt Road, Ka'ala Bridge to East Pa'auilo Bridge improvements: $5.6 million, July.
• Honoka'a Hawi and Kapa'au, pedestrian route improvements: $1.9 million, September.

Maui

• Mokulele Highway, widening from Kolaloa Bridge to Kealia Pond Driveway: $18 million, May.
• Mokulele Highway, widening from Maui Humane Society to Kolaloa Bridge: $15.3 million, July.
• Hana Highway, resurfacing from Haleakala Highway to Ho'okipa Park: $3.3 million, July.
• Hana Highway, rockfall mitigation: $2 million, October.

Kaua'i

• Kuhio Highway, resurfacing near Moloa'a: $1.3 million, April.
• Halewili Road, resurfacing in vicinity of Wahiawa: $1.8 million, April.
• Kuhio Highway, extension of temporary Kapa'a Bypass: $2.5 million, November.

Moloka'i

• Kamehameha V Highway, guardrail and shoulder improvements: $700,000, August.

Lana'i

• Manele Road, resurfacing from Lana'i City toward Manele Bay: $2.7 million, June.

Correction: A previous version of this story contained several errors regarding cost or starting dates of the road projects.