'Ewa residents will have one more traffic option starting at noon Monday when the state opens the H-1 Freeway North-South Road interchange.

It's welcome news to road-weary motorists who crawl through traffic from Kapolei and 'Ewa daily.

The new interchange will provide on- and off-ramps between Kunia and Kapolei, connecting to the northern-most segment of the North-South Road.

The interchange is part of a three-phase project. In all, the $175 million project comprises 2.3 miles of state highway that includes a portion of Kapolei Parkway through 'Ewa that was built several years ago, the interchange being opened Monday and the roadway from Kapolei Parkway to Farrington Highway connecting the other two segments that is expected to open in late 2010, said Brennon Morioka, state DOT director.

"This is monumental," said Tom Berg, a member of the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board. "The route has been planned for 20 years. It will provide for relief as we worm our way around the 'Ewa plain."

On Monday at 10:30 a.m., Gov. Linda Lingle will officially dedicate the interchange along with Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, a representative of the Federal Highways Administration, the contractor and Morioka.

Once it opens, the North-South Road is expected to act as a six-lane reliever for traffic coming into and out of the heavily congested Fort Weaver Road for beleaguered 'Ewa motorists. Traffic is so bad now that many residents travel several miles west into Kapolei to use that interchange to head east into Honolulu.

Eventually the North-South Road and the interchange will connect the north side with Makakilo Drive, providing an alternative route for Makakilo residents.

"It is an important step for us," said Mike Golojuch, a former Kapolei Neighborhood Board member. "It will give us different options. We'll have a third option to get off the freeway."