Transportation officials announced Wednesday the discovery of archaeological sites during recent field surveys in the project area has forced them to put off a previously planned groundbreaking and construction start this month.

"It's very important that we respect these archaeological sites and ensure that testing is fully verified before we proceed," said state Transportation Director Barry Fukunaga. "We'll be working very closely with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to make certain that any disturbances are minimized before moving forward with the work.

"Having said that, we want to expedite the process in order to better serve the residents of Maui."

Earlier this summer, the state Department of Transportation announced it had planned to hold groundbreaking in July and start construction in August. That was changed to late August to give officials time "to determine the function and assess the significance of at least two recently identified sites."

The state Historic Preservation Division has recommended the Transportation Department conduct additional archaeological work to analyze sites that were not previously identified in an archaeological survey conducted 15 years ago.

"We have to balance the need to preserve our cultural resources versus expediting the relief of traffic congestion on Lahainaluna Road," said Capt. Charles Hirata, the Maui Police Department's Lahaina Patrol District commander who is filling in this week as the acting assistant chief.

Theo Morrison, executive director of Lahaina Bypass Now, a grass-roots group formed to lobby for improved roads in West Maui, said she remained optimistic that the Transportation Department would be able to start the bypass.

"We're confident that they will proceed in a most sensitive and appropriate manner to resolve the situation," Morrison said.

Residents in West Maui have been seeking relief for decades, particularly along Lahainaluna Road, which is often packed on school days. It is the only access road to three public schools – Princess Nahienaena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High School.

The first phase of the Lahaina bypass would provide a two-lane road running from Lahainaluna Road to an extension of Keawe Street, a road running through a new commercial district mauka of the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Maui County will complete the Keawe Street extension.

Described as the Lahaina mini-bypass, the new road is expected to alleviate traffic congestion along Lahainaluna Road and at the intersection with Honoapiilani Highway.

The bypass intersection with Lahainaluna Road will include an overpass and offgrade merge rather than a traffic signal.

A second phase of the Honoapiilani Highway Realignment Project will continue the two-lane roadway south toward Launiupoko to connect to the Honoapiilani Highway.

Future phases will run north from the Keawe Street connection around the Kaanapali Resort to Honokowai.

The Launiupoko segment still is in discussion, with state transportation officials in May reporting they were exploring the possibility of extending the southern end of the Lahaina bypass to the area of the old Olowalu Landfill.

On the delay in the first phase, transportation officials said they will wait for results of the additional archaeological review to determine appropriate mitigation measures. Once that information is available, the Transportation Department will determine whether construction can proceed as scheduled.

Transportation officials said Maui County and the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii have both been notified of the archaeological findings, since both have proposed projects in the affected area.