Posted on: Friday, June 17, 2005

Tunnel to Kane'ohe closing for month

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

The state plans to close the Kane'ohe-bound Wilson Tunnel along Likelike Highway for 30 days starting July 5, a move that will affect more than 30,000 drivers a day.

The tunnel will remain closed while a new concrete roadbed — the first in more than 50 years — is put down, said Transportation Director Rod Haraga.

After the Kane'ohe-bound work is finished, officials plan to close the Honolulu-bound tunnel for another 30 days, beginning Sept. 6.

To ease the pain of Windward commuters during the construction project, DOT will set up two lanes of contraflow traffic on the Likelike Highway through the opposite-side tunnels in rush hours.

In the first phase of work, homeward-bound Windward commuters will be able to go up Likelike Highway between 1 and 8 p.m., cross over into the other tunnels, then cross back into the Kane'ohe-bound lanes.

During that time, drivers trying to get from Windward O'ahu to Honolulu will have to use the Pali Highway or H-3 Freeway, officials said.

The highway also will be closed in both directions from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays.

"It will be an inconvenience, but what are you going to do?" said Art Machado Jr., who commutes from Kahalu'u to Kalihi every day. "It's got to be done. Besides, traffic is bad anywhere you go. There are too many cars on the road."

The $13.8 million project, which includes fixing leaks, adding new drainage and putting new tiles on the sides of the tunnels, is designed to improve safety in the tunnels, Haraga said.

The state had planned to do all the tunnel work this summer, but delayed the work to add contraflow lanes sought by Windward commuters, Haraga said.

"It demonstrates that they're listening to the communities and trying to be flexible," said Daniel Bender, vice chairman of the Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board. "It's a tough thing, but they took a risk by delaying the project and taking on the extra expense of contraflow."

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