Construction crews continue to work on paving parking lots at Waiakea Elementary School and Waiakea Intermediate School to address traffic concerns.
Since school began in August, student drop-offs and pick-ups have caused major traffic delays on Puainako Street in the mornings and afternoons.
To alleviate traffic, the county developed a plan to create two new parking areas – one at WES and one at WIS — two areas of modest widening and reinforcement along a loop road on the WIS campus, and one new drive-thru approach apron at the WES campus.
On Monday, crews paved over a portion of the WES campus to create the new drive-thru corridor.
Once the parking lot behind the elementary school is complete, WES can officially adjust the traffic pattern. The new approach apron should take up to 25 cars off Puainako Street.
Construction has been sequestered to the campus, so work will not affect current traffic patterns and school schedules.
WES Principal Ken Watanabe watched Monday as crews paved the new drive-thru corridor on the elementary school campus.
“Once we can get the parking lot behind the school done and the (pavement) has time to dry, we can adjust the traffic pattern, which will help significantly,” he said.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com