Maunawili expects project to be noisy
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Lower Maunawili residents will have to endure the noise from as many as 300 trucks a day hauling tons of dirt into the valley from the Castle Junction hillside mitigation project.
Residents were not convinced at a community meeting last night that some of the noise will be blocked by a ridge between homeowners and the dump site in a small valley-like area about 300 feet off Kalaniana'ole Highway.
The valley amplifies noise, said Lynn Woddell, who lives on Auloa Road. When Kailua Drive-in operated, Woddell said, she could hear words and music from the theater.
"The noise transmitted across the valley is pure," she said.
With the emergency project able to operate 24 hours a day, residents were concerned about not getting a good night's sleep until the project is completed in 180 days.
About 40 residents attended the meeting voicing concern about noise, night work and possible runoff. Dirt hauling could begin as early as next week.
The state Department of Transportation has begun a six-month $7.8 million project to scale back the landslide-prone hillside at Castle Junction. The work includes removing 240,000 cubic yards of dirt, which the contractor wants to dump on vacant agriculture land in Maunawili.
David Bills, an engineer for the project, said the material brought to the dump site will cover 7 1/2 acres of land, 20 feet deep. The work will be done in phases, with each phase covered with grass. A siltation basin will catch any runoff and erosion control will be in place.
DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the project will be monitored for noise violations and, if necessary, steps will be taken to reduce the effects on the community. But Ishikawa couldn't say what those steps might be.
David Laeha, president of the Maunawili Community Association, said his organization also will monitor the work. Too many questions were unanswered and the community is not satisfied that the contractor is doing all that he can to mitigate concerns, Laeha said. "They're going to make this project happen whether we like it or not and that's really objectionable," he said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com. or 234-5266.
