honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 27, 2003

State will widen Pu'uloa Road

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

The state plans to begin construction later this year on a $15 million project to widen and improve a stretch of Pu'uloa Road between Salt Lake Boulevard and Kamehameha Highway near the airport.

The work will include widening the two-lane road to include center turn lanes, installation of new lighting, better drainage, and new sidewalks, gutters and bike lanes.

The busy road along the Mapunapuna commercial district has deteriorated over many years since it once provided the main access to Honolulu International Airport, said Grant Tanimoto, chairman of the Aliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village Neighborhood Board.

"It's an unlit, two-lane road with relatively high traffic," Tanimoto said. "There have been concerns about safety and congestion for a long time."

Tanimoto said the improvements will benefit motorists and many of the business owners along the industrial area, who have been complaining about conditions there for many years. Improved traffic also could bring about redevelopment of the area, he said.

Briefing tomorrow

The state Transportation Department will hold a public information meeting on the Pu'uloa widening project at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Moanalua High School cafeteria, 2825 Ala 'Ilima St.

"It's one of those things (that have been) on the radar screen for many years, but never seemed to get done," he said. "I'm glad they're finally getting around to doing the work. It's going to be money well spent."

Original plans called for the road to be widened to five lanes, but analysis of traffic in the area did not support a project of that scope, said Glenn Yasui, state Highways Division chief. Instead, the road will be widened to three lanes, he said, and street parking will be prohibited to increase traffic flow and reduce the risk of accidents.

As part of the project, telephone lines will be placed underground. However, electric and cable facilities will remain overhead.

Construction work is scheduled to start in September and last until 2005.

At a meeting tomorrow night at Moanalua High School, residents and businesses will be briefed on traffic control during construction, the use of night work, and the tentative timetable.