Road projects throughout the county suffered from a 2014 lava flow emergency that drew attention and resources eastward to Puna.
The County Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to return more than $2 million in lapsed gas tax revenues to the projects for which they originally were intended. Of the 8.5 cents per gallon fuel tax, 3.8 cents can be used only for engineering, road resurfacing and bridge repairs, Public Works Director Warren Lee said.
The money comes from the fuel taxes collected between 2012 and 2014, funding for which appropriations lapsed because it wasn’t spent within the two years allotted. The county typically collects a little more than $6 million annually.
“We weren’t able to expend all of the funds for road construction, road resurfacing,” Lee said.
Left unspent was $505,590 for engineering work for large road projects and $304,654 for resurfacing projects for local roads. That money must be spent in the district where it was collected.
County crews, equipment and contractors were diverted from other projects to create emergency evacuation routes after the June 27 lava flow threatened Puna’s few existing ingress and egress routes. That construction money was reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In addition, about $1.3 million in bridge inspection, repair and replacement funds wasn’t spent because the county was waiting for permits from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources or the Army Corps of Engineers.
“These permits can take months,” Lee said. “We still plan on using the money.”
Council members asked about specific projects in their districts, with Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille wanting to know when Old Saddle Road between Pohakuloa Training Area and Waimea will be completed, and Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan wanting roads in Puna fixed.
Many Puna roads don’t qualify because they’re not county roads, Ilagan was told. Wille, meanwhile, was informed that fixing Saddle Road would eat up $500,000 to $600,000, leaving the rest of the district unserved.
“I keep hearing more and more people complaining,” about the unsafe condition of the old road, Wille said.
Lee said most drivers now use the recently completed but slightly longer route of Saddle Road to Mamalahoa Highway, rather than cutting off north on the unimproved portion toward Waimea.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
Reappropriation of Lapsed Funds for Roadway Projects (Engineering) $505,590
Kuakini Highway Widening (Hualalai to Hawaii Belt Road)
Kapiolani Street Extension
Mamalahoa Widening (North Hawaii Community Hospital to Mudlane)
Alii Highway
Kawailani/ Pohakulani/ Ainaola and Kawailani/ Iwalani Traffic Signals
Kaiminani Reconstruction
Manono Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements
Kilauea Avenue-Keawe Street Resurfacing
Mamalahoa Highway Improvements
Lako Street Extension
Alii Drive Shoulder Improvements
Oneo Lane
Komohana Street Reconstruction
Kalanianaole Avenue Reconstruction
West Hawaii Traffic Signals
Hokulia Bypass Road
Kawailani Street Drywall
Kuauli Road Improvements
Waianuenue Avenue Improvements
Reappropriation of Lapsed Funds for Local Road Improvements (Resurfacing)
Puna roads $33,474
South Hilo roads $81,734
North Hilo roads $24,778
Hamakua roads $21,989
North Kohala roads $2,197
South Kohala roads $17,188
North Kona roads $91,594
South Kona roads $18, 557
Ka‘u roads $13,143
Reappropriation of Lapsed Funds for Bridge Inspection, Repair, Replacement $1.26 million
Kahana Drive Bridge Repairs
Kaahakini Stream Bridge Rehabilitation
Alii Drive Culvert Replacement
Konawaena School Culvert Replacement
Lauhala Gulch Bridge Repairs
Mahuna Gulch Bridge Repairs
North Hilo District Bridge Repairs
South Hilo District Bridge Repairs
Hamakua District Bridge Repairs
North Kona District Bridge Repairs
South Kohala District Bridge Repairs
