The state Department of Transportation this week launched a pilot program in urban Honolulu that will expand the hours that workers are available to deal with emergency road maintenance.

Rather than having 20 maintenance workers on from 6:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m during the week, the employees will be split into four crews working staggered shifts from 5 a.m to 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the department announced.

The program is intended to speed the state's response to emergencies such as fallen trees, boulders in the road and other things that need immediate attention.

"This will particularly help us during the upcoming rainy season, where we can respond more quickly to off-hour emergencies," said DOT Director Rod Haraga in a news release. "By having a crew working during the off-hours, this will allow us to fix a damaged road or remove a fallen tree to reopen a highway before the morning rush hour, or late at night."

The one-year pilot program will cover only urban Honolulu, but if it is successful, the state will consider expanding it across the entire island and perhaps the state.