Posted at 11:58 a.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Lingle tags $346K for design of Kauai highway upgrades
Advertiser Staff
Gov. Linda Lingle has released $346,000 for the design of improvements at two intersections on Kuhio Highway in Lihu'e that will help alleviate traffic congestion.
"Adjustments to existing roads are often the best way to improve the flow of traffic, particularly in an island state like Hawai'i where land is limited," Lingle said in a news release.
Improvements are being designed for two intersections on Kuhio Highway:
Kuhio Highway/Eha Street
This project will extend the right lane in the northbound direction on Kuhio Highway and convert it into a dedicated right-turn lane at the intersection by Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihu'e. This will reduce the congestion caused by cars having to merge into the middle through-lane. The project also includes the design of sidewalks that extend all the way to the intersection and have accessible ramps.
Kuhio Highway/Kapule Highway
Project funds will cover the design of an additional left-turn lane on Kuhio Highway in the northbound direction, increasing the number of left-turn lanes at the Kapule Highway intersection to two. Combined with the plan to increase green-light time from Kapule Highway onto Kuhio Highway in the northbound direction, this will help alleviate traffic on both highways north of Lihu'e Airport during the afternoon peak hours.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $5.4 million. Design is scheduled to be completed in December 2008. Construction is expected to begin in February 2009 and be completed in July 2009.
