Nimitz project, zipper lane to be extended

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

The state is calling the four-month Nimitz Highway contra-flow demonstration project a success and, with the blessing of area businesses and the neighborhood board, has decided to continue it through 2004.

The state also announced plans yesterday for a $4.4 million project to extend the zipper lane on the H-1 Freeway from Pearl Harbor to the Ke'ehi Interchange, connecting to the Nimitz contra-flow as another way to speed up the morning commute.

State Transportation Director Rod Haraga said the contra-flow lane has cut commuter travel time by 10 to 20 minutes and increased the number of cars using the highway by 900 to 1,000 during the peak traffic hour starting at 6:30 a.m.

Kalihi residents had opposed the project because of concerns that it would limit access to businesses along the route.

Haraga said a recent survey of these businesses and feedback from the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board this week showed support for the project.

"Out of 100 responses I've had about the project, only one call objected to the contra-flow," Haraga said. "We feel it is the right thing to do."

Bernadette Young, chairwoman of the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board, said that the board had voted against contra-flow years ago but no longer is opposed to it because it has worked so well.

"So far it is OK and no businesses have complained," Young said.

The project had been scheduled to end next Thursday.

The contra-flow lane on Nimitz Highway creates a fourth lane of town-bound traffic from Ke'ehi Lagoon to downtown Honolulu from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m., but no left turns are allowed between Pu'uhale Road and Pacific Street, where the Hilo Hattie corporate offices are.

Haraga said the state now plans to extend the H-1 Freeway morning zipper lane 2.7 miles by the end of the year so that it runs from Pearl Harbor to the Ke'ehi Interchange. The lane would then be connected directly to a contra-flow lane to save commuters even more time.

The zipper lane now ends just before the airport.

Haraga said when the zipper lane is extended, commuters will be able to exit at Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base, and Pearl City and 'Aiea commuters will be able to enter the zipper lane near their homes.

The zipper lane currently only requires two passengers per vehicle, but that will likely change to three people per car soon because the lane is becoming too crowded, Haraga said. The contra-flow lane will remain at the two-people-per-vehicle requirement.

The zipper project will be paid for with 80 percent federal money and 20 percent state money. The money will be used to purchase the concrete lane dividers and for operational costs.

As a long-term traffic solution, Haraga said the state is still considering an elevated two-lane "flyover" that would run along the same route as the contra-flow lane. The department is updating an old environmental impact statement on the project, which would be built with federal money.

Also yesterday, Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said lane closures along Kalaniana'ole Highway at Castle Junction will continue today and Monday for construction work, weather permitting.

Work is being done to set up a town-bound contra-flow lane from Kapa'a Quarry Road to Castle Junction to ease traffic during the six-month Castle Junction emergency landslide repair project, Ishikawa said.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.

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