This is a sampling of news articles, editorials, etc., from the past 13 years in The Garden Island dealing with development, traffic, studies, and lots of talk but not much action to deal with Eastside Kauai traffic. Is another study or public meeting needed? This has outlasted numerous governors, legislators, mayors and councils.
So, for credit, the Wailua Bridge was widened, the roundabout was developed in Kapaa and a north extension was added. That’s it. More stress was added to the Kapaa corridor; Waipouli Courtyards Apartments, Longs Drugs, Waipouli Beach Resort, new residential developments and homes in Waliua Homesteads, and of course, all that’s been approved and others being considered here and north and south as well.
We are all suffering through this mess and our elected officials are responsible for helping create it.
– Easing traffic woes in Kapaa area no easy job; May 5, 2002
– DOT traffic gridlock meeting set for Kapaa; May 19, 2002
– Even short-term Kapaa traffic fixes are many, many years down the road; Sept. 24, 2002
– Kapaa traffic meeting will cover alternatives; Jan. 23, 2003
– Unjamming Kapaa traffic; Jan. 29, 2003
– First traffic circle planned for busy Kapaa intersection; Jan. 31, 2003
– Yukimura proposes new solution to traffic mess; Jan. 31, 2003
– Yukimura’s traffic relief plan backed; Feb. 8, 2003
– Kapaa traffic study meeting set for tomorrow in Lihue; Oct. 7, 2003
– Meeting tonight to discuss short-term traffic fixes in Kapaa; Feb. 16, 2005
– State officials promise action on Wailua-Kapaa traffic fixes; Feb. 18, 2005
– Governor, mayor unveil traffic relief plans; Aug. 19, 2005
– Mayor asks for state funds for traffic; Jan. 21, 2006
– Today is the deadline for Kapaa-Wailua traffic survey; March 13, 2006
– New projects have Kauaians concerned about traffic, quality of life; Jan. 1, 2006 (top story of 2005)
– Developers offer $12 million for Eastside improvements; April 14, 2006
– Survey: extend Pouli Road; April 29, 2006
– Wailua bridge bears weight of future traffic relief; July 15, 2006
– Kapaa traffic forum Thursday; Oct. 8, 2007
– Eastside to discuss traffic solutions July 26; July 14, 2008
– Traffic tied to quality of life; July 21, 2009
– Traffic slow in Wailua; Dec. 13, 2012
– Trapped in traffic; June 24, 2013
– New Longs Drugs approved; Oct. 10, 2013
– Alternative needed to end Kapaa traffic nightmare; Feb. 16, 2014
– Long-term solutions to traffic congestion — is there such a thing?; April 2, 2014
– More traffic ahead; April 6, 2014
– Better roads key to easing Kauai’s traffic woes; April 14, 2014
– Traffic stop! Kapaa traffic study ahead; April 17, 2014
– Beating the traffic rush; May 23, 2014
– Redeveloping Coco Palms; November 30, 2014
– Major Kapaa development proposed; Dec. 21, 2014
– Grinding gridlock; Feb. 7, 2015
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Jeff Demma is a resident of Lihue.
