Kapi'olani potholes up next for city

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The city's long road to patching hundreds of annoying and teeth-jarring potholes continues today when crews begin work on Kapi'olani Boulevard.

The recent heavy rains have deteriorated the island's roadways and generated hundreds of complaints. The city earlier this month announced a $2 million emergency road repaving project to speed up repair work and asked contractors to evaluate major roadways and make proposals.

Part of the program involves working during night or off-peak daytime hours, which is when the Kapi'olani Boulevard work will be done. The repaving work will be from Kaheka Street to Ward Avenue and include a small section of Kapi'olani fronting the One Kapi'olani Building.

The city said the work will be done from 7:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. and is expected to take five to six nights.

The work will include replacing existing pavement in curb lanes, the city said.

Three lanes will be closed to traffic in the construction area and motorists are advised to expect detours.

Work on permanent striping and manhole adjustments may extend into next week during normal work hours, the city said.

The city began the emergency work last week on Beretania Street and will target other heavily traveled roadways in Honolulu's urban core.

To report a pothole on a city street, call 527-6006, or 536-7852 if the puka is on a freeway or state highway.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.