Posted on: Thursday, February 12, 2004

EDITORIAL
Wai'anae emergency road finally under way

After a series of fits and starts, it appears that the city's effort to provide an emergency bypass road into and out of the Wai'anae coast is nearing reality.

This should come as a huge relief to residents of the Leeward Coast, who are virtually trapped in their community when an accident or other event closes Farrington Highway.

The emergency road is hardly a perfect solution. It will be a patchwork of back roads and easements that will be a far cry from a regular municipal-quality road.

But it is far better than the current situation.

This is not simply a matter of convenience for Leeward residents. It could be a matter of life and death in the case of a medical emergency or in the face of a tsunami or hurricane, when evacuation is critical.

Imagine the horror of being completely gridlocked on Farrington Highway with nowhere to turn as the radio describes the impending hurricane or tsunami.

The first phase of this project will create an alternate route between Nanakuli and Maili. Eventually, the plan is to have a network of back access roads all the way between Nanakuli and Makaha.

It is imperative that city officials do not let down on the tempo of work once the first phase is complete. Wai'anae's residents have waited far too long to be disappointed again.