LIHU’E — A road closure due to a traffic accident and a pavement resurfacing project brought traffic in Lihu‘e to a near standstill Monday afternoon. The road closure of Kapule Highway between Ahukini Road in Lihu‘e through Kuhio Highway exiting
LIHU’E — A road closure due to a traffic accident and a pavement resurfacing project brought traffic in Lihu‘e to a near standstill Monday afternoon.
The road closure of Kapule Highway between Ahukini Road in Lihu‘e through Kuhio Highway exiting Hanama‘ulu town was sent at 3:57 p.m. by Kaua‘i Police Department Dispatch, coinciding with pau hana traffic.
Preliminary reports indicate a female driver from Kapa‘a heading south decided to make a U-turn to head back north in an attempt at avoiding the traffic congestion from a construction project.
Several cars behind the female driver, a male driver from Kapa‘a, also south bound, decided he would overtake all of the stopped vehicles by driving on the northbound lane, resulting in the collision with the female driver at approximately 3:40 p.m.
Both vehicles needed to be towed off the highway due to extensive damages, resulting in the road closure.
Both drivers were taken to the G.N. Wilcox Memorial Hospital Emergency Room with non life-threatening injuries.
Traffic on main arteries in Lihu‘e slowed to a crawl as people getting off work entered the flow, creating a jam in side streets as motorists sought shortcuts to the slowdown.
“Life is short,” one listener said on KQNG Radio, the Kaua‘i Civil Defense radio station. “Can we request ‘Cruisin’,’ because that’s what people should be doing.”
The traffic, already restricted to one lane due to the resurfacing project near the Hanama‘ulu Bridge on Kapule Highway, was further aggravated by an auto accident, which was being reported on the radio.
Kapule Highway between Ahukini Road and Kuhio Hwy in Hanama‘ulu will be subject to lane closures for pavement resurfacing from July 30, states a Department of Transportation advisory.
Traffic will be contra-flowed 24 hours a day, seven days a week for approximately two weeks to complete the project, weather permitting.
Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time, the release states.
Kaua‘i Police Department Assistant Chief of the Patrol Services Bureau Ale Quibilan reminds motorists that roadway construction is continuing at a number of locations throughout the island, including night work.
“Vehicle traffic will be impacted and drivers are reminded to adhere to the maximum and restricted speed limits at the construction sites, at all times, not only during active construction times,” Quibilan said in a release.
“Please give yourself extra time to get through these areas. Police officers will be monitoring construction zones to enforce the speed limit.”
But as the traffic slowed, Donna Pickard, manager of the Kaua‘i Humane Society Thrift Shop, saw a bright spot, keeping the store open beyond its normal 5 p.m. closing and putting out a sign announcing the special traffic hours.
“People were honking and several stopped by to take advantage of the opening,” Pickard said, pausing to ring up several sales.
“We had a special in the clothing area where people could pick 20 pieces for $2. But we’re not just doing it for us, it’s for all of us who are staying late.”
She said her husband, David, also came by after work and helped take in some of the donations.
“He’s not going anywhere in this traffic so he came to help,” Pickard said.
Romae Lenci was one of the shoppers, noting she was walking on Monday, anyway, and welcomed the opportunity to shop before heading home near the G.N. Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
Pam Almodova of Wailua also took advantage of the late hours.
“I was just going to stop off and give a donation,” the Wailua resident said. “But since they’re open, I can look for things.”
Pickard said the Monday opening is a new facet of the thrift shop, and having the traffic crawl by was a good way to let people know the shop is now open from Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and later, if there’s traffic).
“We want shoppers to know we’re working on trying some evening hours in the future,” Pickard said.
Traffic on Kapule Highway was reopened at 4:51 p.m., according to KPD Dispatch.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.