Efforts to soothe concerns about traffic in Kapolei are being stepped up before new development takes over more of the region’s rural landscape. The state Department of Transportation is pumping nearly $175 million into highway improvements as part of the efforts over the next two years to keep pace with the need for more roads in the fast-growing region. Chief among the projects is the North-South Road, the state’s most ambitious project since H-3. It is expected to create a third route in and out of the Kapolei to the H-I Freeway when it opens in the summer of 2009.
“The North-South Road is important to meet the transportation needs of the current and future growth and development of the Ewa, Kapolei, and Kalaeloa areas,” said Gov. Linda Lingle, adding that she is committed to supporting “projects throughout the state that improve the quality of life for our residents, provide more efficient traffic flow, and keep Hawaii residents on the move.” As a sign of that commitment, state transportation officials point to several other projects in various stages of development that are aimed at alleviating the concerns of the region’s traffic-weary public. Brennan Morioka, director of the state Department of Transportation, said Ewa motorists may have noticed roadwork beginning recently on another large-scale project designed to help shorten their commutes in the region.
At a cost of almost $60 million, the second phase of the Fort Weaver Road widening project will change Fort Weaver Road from a four-lane to a six-lane highway from Aawa Street to Geiger Road and is scheduled for completion is two years. He added that the widening of the road from Farrington Highway to Aawa Street was completed last year. In addition, design work on the first phase of a new H-1 Freeway Kapolei Interchange is compete and ready to go out to bid for construction.
As a partnership between the state and the Kapolei Property Development, this $23 million project will improve area access to the H-1 by adding eastbound on-and-off ramps near Wakea Street, a westbound on-ramp from Makakilo Drive, and a westbound off-ramp to Farrington Highway. “Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and will be completed in about a year and a half,” Morioka said. Work on the design for the Fort Barrette Road widening project also continues and is expected to double the number of lanes in each direction from Farrington Highway to Roosevelt Avenue in Kalaeloa. “This project will also improve bicycle and pedestrian safety along this stretch, which is even more important considering the new schools that have been built along this corridor,” he said. “At an estimated cost of $20 million, construction is slated to begin in 2009.”
Design for the East-West Road in Kapolei is wrapping up and will create a new four-lane roadway parallel to Farrington Highway near the future University of Hawaii West Oahu Campus. “This project is being done in cooperation with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, which is installing infrastructure for its projects in the area,” Morioka said.
Future state projects in the planning phases include the widening of Farrington Highway from Hakimo Road in Nanakuli to Kalaeloa Boulevard. Plans also call for creating an evening zipper lane, which will provide and extra lane in the Ewa-bound direction during after rush hour. “We have also made a very conscious effort to improve alternatives for commuters to choose from,” Morioka said. “Bike and pedestrian facilities in the region are being considered in all of our road improvement projects to encourage people to bike or walk within their communities.”
In addition, the much-anticipated Leeward Bike Path project, which will connect the old train station in Ewa to Lualualei on the Leeward Coast through old railroad right of way, is being designed. “We have also stepped up efforts to promote ridesharing programs like Vanpool Hawaii, which has become increasingly popular around the state,” Morioka said. “Sharing a ride with friends or co-workers can be the most cost effective and fastest way to fight congestion on Hawaii’s roads. On top of that, many vanpoolers find the commute a little more bearable when riding with friends to help pass the time, and employers have also observed happier employees once they get to work.”
He added that many City and County of Honolulu transportation projects have been carefully coordinated with the state Department of Transportation. Among them are the Kapolei Parkway Extension, Kamokila Boulevard Extension, the Makakilo Drive Extension that will connect to the North-South Road, and the city’s proposed fixed-rail mass transit system.
“Combined, these projects will transform the face of transportation in West Oahu and will help provide a stable, balanced transportation framework for commuters for years to come,” Morioka said.
