Stranded motorists along the H-1 Freeway can look forward to receiving free highway services from the state by next summer, the Transportation Department said yesterday.

The long-delayed roving freeway service patrols will provide gas, fix a flat tire and offer other minor services to get stalled cars off the road and keep traffic moving, DOT director Rod Haraga said. The service will be free.

At least for the first year, however, it will not include the free towing originally planned.

For several years, officials have been trying to start the freeway patrols as part of a congestion management plan.

DOT had planned to put the $3 million project out for contract bid earlier this year, but a company that already has a towing contract with the city objected, saying it would unfairly cut into its business.

"DOT has decided to delay the start date of the physical towing services portion of the project until Aug. 1, 2007," the state told the company, Stoneridge Recoveries, on Monday. That satisfies the company's concerns, attorney Mark Kawata said.

Stoneridge has a contract to provide Honolulu police with exclusive towing service from 'Aiea to Waipahu. The company then charges motorists for towing. Allowing the state to provide free service would have taken away about 80 percent of its business, Kawata said.

With the protest by Stoneridge out of the way, DOT plans to seek proposals this month and start operations by next summer, Haraga said.

When Stoneridge's contract with the city expires in 2007, the state will add free towing to its service patrols.

Initially, the patrols running along the freeway at about 15-minute intervals will operate only on the H-1 Freeway from the H-2 merge to Middle Street. They'll provide just enough gas or other services to get a stranded car off the freeway, Haraga said.

If successful, the service will expand to cover all state freeways, he said.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.