Hawaii County is mulling two possible routes for the first phase of the Nani Kailua road extension, a makai-mauka connector road between Alii Drive and Hualalai Road.
In a draft environmental assessment and finding of no significant environmental impact published Monday, planners envision a two-lane roadway with a center turn lane, bike lanes and sidewalks.
The first phase, a 600-foot makai section known as Oneo Lane, will be constructed between Kuakini Highway and Alii Drive. This phase, at an estimated cost of $4.5 million, should be able to go out for bid late next year and begin construction in early 2017, said Ben Ishii, Engineering Division chief for the county Department of Public Works.
Both of the possible routes traverse undeveloped land. The proposed connection with Kuakini Highway would be close to the existing southern Coconut Grove access. The terminus at Alii Drive would occur between Coconut Grove Marketplace and the Kona Billfisher.
“We’re going to wait until we get public comments before we lock down the route,” Ishii said.
The intersection of Oneo Lane and Kuakini Highway would have signals to mitigate traffic congestion because of vehicles turning left onto Oneo Lane from Kuakini Highway. Similarly, the intersection of Oneo Lane and Alii Drive would have signals to mitigate traffic congestion because of vehicles turning left onto Oneo Lane from Alii Drive.
Archaeological and historical artifacts on the site are minimal, according to the 411-page FONSI report found at oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/EA_and_EIS_Online_Library/Hawaii/2010s/2015-08-08-HA-5B-DEA-Oneo-Lane.pdf.
Both alignments would have an impact on a rock boundary wall. In addition, the more southerly alignment, dubbed the “green alignment,” would go over a mid- to late-19th century residential compound.
“While some integrity has been lost, this site still has the potential for yielding information relative to the period of transition that took place in many Hawaiian households just prior to and following the Mahele,” the report says.
The second phase of the project, an approximately 2,000-foot mauka section between Hualalai Road and Kuakini Highway, is projected to be completed by 2020. The existing Nani Kailua Drive currently terminates at Hualalai Road.
The project is being proposed to provide additional mauka-makai connectivity within the area and relieve traffic congestion at the Hualalai Road/Alii Drive intersection by redirecting some traffic off Alii Drive and onto Kuakini Highway, planners said.
Comments will be accepted until Sept. 8. They should be sent to the Hawaii County Department of Public Works, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi St., Suite 7, Hilo, HI 96720. Copies should be sent to the state Office of Environmental Quality Control, 235 S. Beretania St., Suite 702, Honolulu, HI 96813, and Rachel Adams, Parsons Brinckerhoff, 1001 Bishop St., Suite 2400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
