KAILUA-KONA — The effort to widen a portion of Queen Kaahumanu Highway is still on track to be “substantially complete” in August, with the upcoming activation of a traffic signal to be the latest sign of progress on the nearly three-year-old project.
The signal at the intersection with the entrance to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park will be activated at 9 a.m. Tuesday. After the signal’s activation, said state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Shelly Kunishige, remaining work will consist of paving and striping between Hina Lani Street and Kealakehe Parkway, as well as the installation of signs.
Once that’s finished, the second southbound lane throughout the project’s full length will be opened.
Remaining work will include grading the median and landscaping as well as the installation of rumble strips, signs and “general project clean-up work,” Kunishige said.
Motorists are advised to be aware of warning signs in the area and anticipate equipment and workers in the median and on road shoulders.
Some night work and lane closures might be required, Kunishige said.
The $128.1 million project, officially phase 2 of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project, will widen a little more than 5 miles of Highway 19 from two to four lanes between Kealakehe Parkway and Keahole Airport Road. New lights and signals also will be installed.
Phase 1 widened about 2.6 miles of road between Henry Street and Kealakehe Parkway.
By the time phase 2 is expected to be “substantially complete,” it will have been close to three years since the entire project began.
At that time, estimates put the cost at about $90 million, a price tag that has grown with time, most recently in May when the DOT authorized an additional $5.5 million to rebuild the highway’s mauka-side pavement between Hina Lani Street and Kealakehe Parkway.
Another $1.3 million, paid for by Hawaii County, went toward water and sewer line improvements in the area.
Email Cameron Miculka at cmiculka@westhawaiitoday.com.