Posted on: Wednesday, October 1, 2003

EDITORIAL
Nimitz 'flyover' poses potential problems

Based on early accounts, the new contraflow lane the state has established on Nimitz Highway is a success.

So pleased are officials that they are taking another look at building a second, elevated deck for Nimitz as sort of a permanent contraflow lane.

This would be a slimmed-down modified version of previous ill-fated proposals to double-deck Nimitz.

It's understandable how this project might make sense from a traffic engineering perspective. But that is not the only perspective to consider.

There is also the perspective of everyone in Honolulu who looks out toward a harbor that is largely cut off from town. Granted, the second deck would end long before Nimitz gets to central downtown

Honolulu, but double-decking even a portion of Nimitz would only further cut off the town from the water. And it's not likely to end there.

The city has for some time had plans — perhaps a bit utopian — to reconnect the city and the waterfront by clearing out physical obstructions along the harborfront, realigning Nimitz and creating a separate route into town using Sand Island and a short harbor tunnel. Clearly, this is far more ambitious than contraflow lanes or even a limited second deck or "flyover" for Nimitz.

Before the state pushes ahead, it should think long-term about what Honolulu wishes to look like. Eventually, we must re-integrate the city with the harbor from which it grew.