Weather, equipment issues further delay Komohana Street project

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The monthslong reconstruction of Komohana Street in Hilo will now carry into the fall.

The monthslong reconstruction of Komohana Street in Hilo will now carry into the fall.

Work is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, said Barret Otani, information and education specialist with the Hawaii County Department of Public Works.

Reconstruction of about 4,000 feet of roadway began last October. Traffic signal upgrades, pavement striping and replacement of utility boxes also are included in the project.

When the project began, it was expected to be finished by February. By March, work was just 30 percent complete.

Rainy weather pushed back the completion date to May. Similar conditions led to the current delayed timeline.

“Weather and equipment issues have contributed to the delay of completion,” Otani said in an email. “The county is working with the contractor to complete the project in a safe and timely manner.”

Contractor Yamada and Sons Inc. could not be reached by press time.

Otani said the project remains on its original $4.9 million budget.

“The County of Hawaii Department of Public Works … thanks the community for their patience and understanding,” he said.

Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.