Yesterday's release of more than $22 million to the University of Hawai'i will help address a substantial backlog in repairs and maintenance throughout the 10-campus system.

The state money addresses major repair projects that had to be delayed after the UH-Manoa campus was hit by a devastating flood on Oct. 30, 2004.

"Because of the flood, the funds had to be reallocated to address some of the damages related to the flood," said Jan Yokota, director of capital improvements at UH.

This appropriation will allow UH to schedule those repairs for 2006, said Yokota. The improvements represent what the various campuses have identified as high priority, she said.

It is estimated that the UH system has a backlog of $181 million in repairs and maintenance.

"It will take a number of years of these appropriations to be able to address the deferred maintenance issues," Yokota said.

A major portion of yesterday's $22.2 million release went to projects at UH-Manoa.

One project — the construction of a chiller plant and electrical transformer building for Hamilton Library — will allow the library to continue to recover from last year's flood, said Jim Manke, UH-Manoa spokesman.

Manke said the new building will spell good news for Hamilton Library because it will allow staff to proceed with planning for reorganizing the 1-acre basement, which remains empty.

About $4 million of the money will go to finance design and construction costs for health and safety modifications including mold eradication, asbestos abatement, modifications to meet the Hawai'i Occupational Safety and Health Act, ventilation improvements and fire alarm systems, according to the governor's office.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.