If you haven't heard about them yet, just wait: You're bound to get slowed down by one or another of them someday soon.

Maybe, though, you're one of those optimists who thinks it won't happen to you. You're sitting at home thinking, "Hey, I haven't been out to Sand Island in years." Or you like bragging to your wife that you've never even seen the outlet stores at Waikele, so there's not much danger of you getting caught heading west on the freeway anytime soon, day or night.

But rust never sleeps and engineers are never idle for long. After all, they've got several hundred million dollars worth of construction projects on the books that don't have anything to do with the Big Four of Summer.

There are seismic strengthening programs, lane modifications, bridge retrofits, guardrail replacements, new lights to be put in, concrete barriers to be built, stripes to be repainted, medians to be worked on, traffic signals to be fixed, sidewalks to be reconstructed, and landscaping that has to be weed-whacked.

No matter where you drive, there's a road improvement project in your immediate future.

Here's just a sampling of some of minor hot spots that might develop as DOT crews hit the road this week. Most of the work will be done between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., but just so no one gets complacent, there are exceptions that we aren't allowed to tell you about.

• Kamehameha Highway near Waiahole Valley Road.
• Farrington Highway fronting Waialua High.
• Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Mikiola Drive.
• Lagoon Drive at Koapaka Street.
• Bougainville Drive at Navy Hale Keiki faculty parking area.
• H-3 Freeway about one mile south of the Halawa Tunnel portal.
• H-1 Freeway at the Palailai Interchange, near the Makakilo Interchange and below the Gulick Street overpass.
• South King Street between the off-ramp and Kapi'olani Boulevard.
• Ala Moana Boulevard between Pi'ikoi Street and Atkinson Drive.
• Nimitz Highway between Sumner and River streets.
• Likelike Highway near the Burmeister Overpass and the Wilson Tunnel.

OK, did we miss anybody? You there, in Hawai'i Kai, I see you smirking in satisfaction. Don't worry, your day is coming soon. Mililani, 'Ewa and Kapolei, you also have the week off in recognition of the backlogs you already endure.

As for the rest of you, happy motoring.

And, oh yeah — Friday is Kamehameha Day. The DOT says there won't be any roadwork then.

As for Saturday, no promises.