Q. I was wondering if you could find out the status of the bridge that is being replaced on Kamehameha Highway just past the Arizona Memorial going townbound. We have been using a temporary bridge for more than a year, it was my understanding that the work was supposed to be completed already. What happened?

A. Several people have been wondering about the long-delayed project. State Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said a delay was caused when the contractors came across an underground communications line, then had a really difficult time tracking down the owner.

The $7.2 million Halawa Stream bridge replacement project was stopped late last year after crews at the work site found the line, Ishikawa said. So, why didn't they just cut it? Well, the only thing they were able to figure out about it was that it might be a sensitive and important communications line to somebody.

"Several months and tax maps later, it was determined the owner of the sensitive communications line fell under the military," Ishikawa said — specifically, that it was under Army jurisdiction. Now the communications line has been moved, and Ishikawa said the state is renegotiating with the contractor on increased costs for construction material because of the delay. He said the state understands that the increased cost isn't one that the contractor could control. So, once they figure that out, Ishikawa said the state crews hope to restart work in September.

That means the new bridge could be open to traffic by the middle of next year.

"We apologize for the delay, but in hindsight cutting the communications line ourselves without determining who was the proper owner could have caused a lot of other problems," Ishikawa said.

Q. I'm interested in renting a car here and traveling on Superferry once the company gets going. Can I do that?

A. Hawaii Superferry spokesman Terry O'Halloran said his company has been working with the major rental car companies to figure out how that could happen. "It will depend on the rental car company," he said. But he said some details are being finalized and he expects to announce soon that at least one car rental company that has worked out an arrangement with Superferry.

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