In the next two years, more than 350 homes will be built at the end of Makakilo Drive, adding hundreds of people and cars to an area already reaching its capacity.

But one developer plans to extend Makakilo Drive, setting up a potential connector route to the proposed North-South Road, scheduled to break ground at the end of the year.

Castle & Cooke, developers of Palehua East B at the end of Makakilo Drive, will extend the road about 2,800 feet through its property, leaving a little more than 3,000 feet to reach the interchange where North-South Road will connect Kapolei Parkway, Farrington Highway and H-1. The hope is that the state or city will finish the extension of the drive to reach this interchange, giving Makakilo residents an alternate route to the freeway — and a second access in and out of the area.

An update on the progress of the $120 million North-South Road will be discussed today at the 'Ewa Transportation Coalition Meeting at Honolulu Hale.

Many Makakilo residents are clamoring for someone — developers, city, state — to provide adequate infrastructure before more houses are built. Extending Makakilo Drive to the interchange might be one solution to the community's concern about traffic. The area is home to more than 15,000 residents.

"People have been talking about extending Makakilo Drive for 20 years now," said resident Frank Genadio. "If the city got its act together, along with developers, we could probably get a win-win situation. I don't oppose development, but it's a matter of where's the infrastructure."

The O'ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization proposed the extension in 2001. The project is part of its long-range transportation plan, making it eligible for federal funding, said Gordon Lum, executive director of the advisory organization created by the state Legislature in 1975. But so far neither the city nor state has indicated it would pursue the project.

Plans for the much-anticipated North-South Road, however, are moving along, said Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

The state is in the process of finalizing its draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project, with the hopes of starting construction by the end of the year.

The 2 1/2-mile roadway will join Kapolei Parkway, Farrington Highway and H-1 about two miles east of the Makakilo Interchange.

The partial extension of Makakilo Drive by Castle & Cooke, some hope, will kick-start the project of connecting it to the interchange.

"There's no infrastructure in place right now with our schools and roads," said Michael Golojuch Jr., a 31-year-old resident of Makakilo. "There's only one way in and out right now, and that's the fault of the city and state ... It's not the developer's responsibility to build our schools and pave our roads."

But other residents say developers should do more by building an infrastructure that will support additional residents. "It's certainly a huge concern," said Kioni Dudley, president of the Friends of Makakilo and member of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board. "It's the crowded streets getting in and out of Kapolei. It's the freeway in the morning. It's a nightmare."

It takes Dudley 45 minutes to an hour to get from his home in Makakilo to 'Aiea High School, where he teaches English. He believes the two developers — Castle & Cooke and Schuler Homes — should pay to improve the roadways.

"I want to see the building stop until the infrastructure is in," he said. "We need to plan what we're doing, not just do it."

Castle & Cooke is building about 275 single-family homes over 71 acres starting in the upper $300,000. Schuler Homes will offer 115 single-family homes starting in the low $300,000.

Both are in-fill developers, meaning they purchased entitled pieces of land that are fully zoned. They are not required to build schools or improve roadways.

Castle & Cooke has paid the state an 'Ewa traffic master plan impact fee applied toward the regional highway system, said Carlton Ching, director of community and government relations, and as part of its purchase opted to pay a park dedication fee instead of build a community park.

The developer made its plans public in several community meetings since it purchased the land in December 2003, he said.

Early morning traffic spurred the retirement of resident Genadio, who now avoids commuting to town during rush hours. He hopes the Makakilo Drive extension to the North-South Road interchange happens — and before the new homes are sold.

"I feel for the commuters out here," he said. "The plans to make the second city in Kapolei are valid, and I support the idea of a second urban center. But there's more planning to build homes than creating more jobs, and the commute into town will just get worse."