The state has indefinitely suspended work on the northbound lanes of the state's long-running Fort Weaver Road widening project following complaints about the traffic backup along the main corridor going out of 'Ewa, a Department of Transportation official said yesterday.

DOT officials have asked engineers with contractor Hawaiian Dredging to come up with "a better, more effective traffic control plan" that would allow the work to continue while easing the burden on those trying to drive out of 'Ewa and 'Ewa Beach, DOT spokeswoman Tammy Mori said.

Work to add southbound lanes is continuing as scheduled, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.

The department was receiving about 10 complaints a day, Mori said.

DOT officials took a drive in the area and confirmed the traffic problem, Mori said.

Rep. Kymberly Pine, R-43rd ('Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point, Pu'uloa), said her office also has received several complaints about the traffic backup.

"People are in agony," Pine said.

Pine said she suggested to DOT officials that they consider working on the project at night, but was told the state Health Department probably would not approve a noise variance.

"We would like to get together with residents of West Loch Fairways to see what the possibility of night work would be," Pine said. "Of course, if they're against it, we're going to have to respect their wishes."

On the other hand, Pine said she is worried about the delay to the work.

"We need to get through this and get it done as soon as possible," Pine said.

The current road work is between 'A'awa Drive and Geiger Road. It is part of the $60 million Phase II of the Fort Weaver Road widening project, which would expand the thoroughfare from four lanes to six. Work began on the second phase in October and was expected to be finished by mid-2009.

Phase I of the project, which widened Fort Weaver Road from 'A'awa Drive to Farrington Highway from four to six lanes, was done in August 2006.

A third phase would widen Fort Weaver makai of Geiger Road.