$200K to improve intersection
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The city has begun work on a series of safety improvements at the intersection of Date Street and Kapahulu Avenue, considered to be one of the more dangerous spots for drivers and pedestrians on O'ahu.
The $200,000 project will include left turn signals that will extend over the traffic lanes on "mast" type poles, new underground wiring, curbs that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and sidewalk improvements.
The work was spurred by a recent city survey of traffic volume and accidents at the intersection showing the work was needed, according to city spokeswoman Carol Costa.
Costa said planning for the work is complete, but the work will not go out to bid until the end of the year and construction is expected to take about six months to complete.
Kapahulu Avenue is busy all day with commuters going to and from Waikiki and two lanes of traffic on Date Street are used for right turns onto Kapahulu cutting across the crosswalk.
Some residents avoid the intersection altogether, said John Spencer, 80, who has lived in the Kapahulu area most of his life.
Spencer said turning left at the intersection is the worst.
"There have been hundreds of times I've witnessed near accidents there," Spencer said. "I've had to accelerate to get out of somebody's way trying to make the light."
According to police, there were 11 major traffic accidents at the intersection in 2001, five in 2002 and eight between January and August last year.
Spencer and others have been asking for improvements for years that they say will make driving much safer.
"When you have a truck blocking your view and he is trying to turn left from the other side you can't see who is coming," he said. "It would be nice to have a left turn signal so it wouldn't be a hazard."
City transportation officials, City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi and state Rep. Scott Nishimoto met with residents on the street yesterday to go over plans for improvements.
Nishimoto said residents call his office every week complaining about the intersection.
"They say we have to do something about this place," Nishimoto said. "There has got to be about one accident a week and more near misses. This is a really busy intersection and very dangerous. It is a big deal for our community."
The project is paid for entirely with a federal grant because of the large number of senior residents in the area, Kobayashi said.
"The Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board has been asking for better safety there ... for a long time," Kobayashi said. "I think it will be great to improve the whole safety of that intersection."
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
