Posted on: Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Motorists get break on roadwork

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

The state Department of Transportation is suspending work on a number of highway projects for three weeks to ease congestion during the busy back-to-school driving season.

With more than 42,000 university, community college, private and public school students returning to the classroom between now and Sept. 3, all weekday lane closures for the projects will be halted, DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

The changes are part of the annual "Beat the School Jam" traffic campaign that was started in the 1990s after the back-to-school convergence caused a momentous gridlock on H-1.

Among the projects that will be suspended during the day until after Labor Day:

• Moanalua Freeway resurfacing: School Street on-ramp to the Pu'uloa Interchange.
• Nimitz Highway rehabilitation: Queen Street to Sumner Street.
• Ala Moana Boulevard traffic signal work: Pi'ikoi Street to Atkinson Drive.
• Kamehameha Highway resurfacing: Waiahole Valley Road to Crouching Lion Inn.
• Kamehameha Highway: Halawa Stream bridge replacement: Arizona Memorial Place to Kalaloa Street.
• Farrington Highway drainage improvements: Nanakuli Avenue to Nanakuli Stream.
• Likelike Highway resurfacing: Emmeline Place to Wilson Tunnel.

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