Hawaii County has broken ground on a project aimed at easing traffic on Kinoole Street while providing a new route between the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus and the downtown area. ADVERTISING Hawaii County has broken ground on a
Hawaii County has broken ground on a project aimed at easing traffic on Kinoole Street while providing a new route between the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus and the downtown area.
Politicians and university officials gathered Thursday for a ceremony to kick off efforts to close a 0.5-mile gap on Kapiolani Street between Lanikaula and Mohouli streets.
The $13.6 million construction contract for the extension was awarded this year to Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd.
Plans call for traffic lights at Mohouli and Lanikaula, as well as bike lanes, a turning lane, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, plus a bridge crossing Waiakea Stream.
“Some portions will have a median strip, as well,” said Warren Lee, director of the Hawaii County Department of Public Works.
Lee said he expects work to begin within the month, “and they’ve got 14 months (to finish work) after that.”
He added that once work begins, “we’re asking everybody to be careful. Watch out for workmen. We will have a traffic control plan. … We want to make sure everybody is driving safely and watching out for the workers.”
University of Hawaii at Hilo Director of University Relations Jerry Chang said Thursday that UH-Hilo and the county long have discussed the project as being vital for safety and accessibility for the area, but funding kept delaying the work.
“We had always been pushing for it, and I always included it in my (capital improvement project) requests. But it never got anywhere,” he said. “Everyone said the state should contribute to it, but unfortunately we never had the funds to do it. Then, Mayor (Billy) Kenoi stepped up and said, ‘Whatever’s good for the university is good for the community.’ … And all the council members at the time … stepped up and voted for it and got the bond to get the financing.”
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
