Traffic went smoothly for drivers on the H-1 Freeway near Ward Avenue today as the state began a rush-hour experiment that involved closing the Lunalilo on-ramp from 6 to 9:30 a.m. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

By closing the Lunalilo on-ramp to the freeway from 6 to 9:30 a.m. today, the Department of Transportation eliminated the criss-cross effect created when freeway-bound drivers merged with commuters leaving H-1 at the very same spot, via the Vineyard off-ramp.

"So far, no accidents," said department spokesman Scott Ishikawa, watching the freeway from the Ward Avenue overpass about 7:20 a.m. "So far it is going pretty smoothly. This is probably crunch time now."

The experiment, which is scheduled to last 90 days, still allows freeway drivers to use the Vineyard off-ramp. Drivers who would normally use the Lunalilo on-ramp for the freeway will now be directed about another half-mile to Punchbowl Street where they can turn mauka and head for the freeway.

Traffic engineers were sent to several intersections today to see how well the experiment was working, Ishikawa said. They want to see what kinds of problems are created in the surrounding neighborhoods.

"Lunalilo Street is cleared out," Ishikawa said. "It is not as bad as it used to be."

Traffic on Pi'ikoi and Pensacola streets also flowed well, Ishikawa said.

"We're hoping this will not only help H-1 drivers but the Makiki commuters as well," Ishikawa said.

The Punchbowl on-ramp is underutilized and appeared to handle the additional cars without trouble, Ishikawa said. But engineers will monitor the traffic light to see if changes are warranted during the experiment.

A police officer also will be at the interesction for the duration of the experiment to ease problems and ensure the safety of schoolchildren in the area, he said.

The real test will come in two weeks when an estimated 42,000 students return to private schools and the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. The department is anxious to see what kind of effect that will have, Ishikawa said.

"The reason we started this two weeks before school started was to get people acclimated to the changes," he said. "We definitely did not want to do this at the start of school."