The state Department of Transportation is holding an informational meeting to discuss the upcoming Kalanianaole Highway retaining wall project near Makapuu at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Hawaii Army National Guard Training Auditorium at Bellows Air Force Station. Representatives from the DOT will provide an overview of the proposed project and welcome input from the public.

"We realize this project will have a significant impact on the Hawaii Kai and Windward residents,” says Brennon Morioka, director of the state DOT. “We have met with the contractor to discuss adjusting the proposed contra flow hours and minimizing the work that was scheduled to be done during the day and focus most of the work at night. There is never a good time to do a project of this magnitude, but it is important that we address this slope now, before a serious incident occurs and the highway is shut down for years.”

The night work is scheduled to begin on Nov. 29 and last for one week and then shut down during the holidays. The $7.8 million will then continue in January 2010 and is scheduled to be complete at the end of 2010.

Throughout the duration of the project, the DOT will be sending out a press release of the construction activities on a weekly basis, updating information on the DOT Web site at www.hawaii.gov/dot and strategically placing eight electronic message boards at various locations before the lane closures are implemented so drivers can adjust their routes accordingly.