Posted on: Thursday, July 8, 2004
O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Bishop St. transit work delayed
Preliminary work on the city's Bus Rapid Transit stop on Bishop Street, which was scheduled to begin yesterday, has been postponed until September.
The contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, decided to complete work on the BRT transit stops in Waikiki before moving to the downtown area.
The Bishop Street work is expected to block traffic lanes on weekdays for six to eight weeks and cost between $700,000 and $800,000.
Hawaiian Dredging is also doing preparation work for BRT stations in Kaka'ako, near Ward Warehouse, and three stations in Waikiki as part of the initial BRT segment of 5.6 miles.
The city's BRT line is projected to be built over the next 14 years and to extend ultimately from Kapolei to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. The plan is to use dedicated bus lanes with hybrid electric-gas buses making limited stops to help ease traffic around the island.
Contractors get September trial
A federal court trial was set for September for two contractors accused of rigging bids to obtain contracts at Honolulu International Airport.
Michael Furukawa of MF Masonry and Wesley Uemura of Wes' Contracting pleaded innocent Tuesday and remain free on $50,000 bond.
A 33-count federal grand jury indictment filed June 30 charges the two with conspiracy and mail fraud in connection with inflated bids between 1998 and 2001. Prosecutors say the two set up dummy companies in a scheme that ensured they would win the contracts.
Big book sale starts Saturday
The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i will hold a book sale starting Saturday at the McKinley High School cafeteria.
More than 150,000 books, paperbacks, magazines, CDs, DVDs, videos and other material will be on sale through July 17. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Saturday to July 16, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 17.
Last year, the book sale raised $120,000 for libraries.
Anti-speeding event tomorrow
Students, teachers, parents and police officers will urge drivers in Kalihi to slow down in the school zone near Fern Elementary during a sign-waving campaign tomorrow.
The event will be from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the school, 1121 Middle St. Keiki will line Middle Street holding signs that discourage speeding.
The effort is part of AIG Hawai'i Insurance Company's Hot Spots program.
