LIHUE — A five-member County Council held their first meeting since June 26, with member Arthur Brun out sick and KipuKai Kuali‘i excused.
The council went over several agenda items including a resolution that would establish two crosswalks on Kekaha Road and repeal an existing crosswalk near Kekaha School.
“We actually had two incidents where one of the kids actually got banged up, and so I’m asking the County Council for your support so we can get this completed in a very timely manner,” Dennis Eguchi, a Kekaha resident, said in public testimony to the council.
The first crosswalk would be established on Kekaha Road, 520 feet west of its intersection with ‘Alae Road. There is currently a crosswalk at the location, however, there is no resolution that established a crosswalk at that location.
The second crosswalk would be 272 feet west of ‘Alae Road.
“Several community members have expressed concern for the safety of students and other pedestrians that cross Kekaha Road near the school,” the communication for the resolution reads.
The crosswalk that would be removed if the resolution eventually passes is at a location about 425 feet west of its centerline intersection with ‘Alae Road that was established by Resolution No. 138. No crosswalk marking exist at the location.
“This is a solution that was brought together with our engineering division in walking with the principal and members of the community,” Deputy County Engineer Lyle Tabata said at the meeting. “There were concerns of the existing drop-off/pickup area.”
County of Kauai Department of Public Works Chief Engineer Michael Moule was introduced by Tabata to the council to give further detail on the proposed resolution.
“There was an existing resolution for a crosswalk at this location kind of directly in front of the school, and that’s because that’s where the crosswalk used to be,” Moule said, adding that when the school moved its main entrance, the crosswalk location was also moved, but the resolution was never changed.
“The school, as well as residents in Kekaha, asked us to do a couple of things,” Moule said. “They asked about flashing beacons at these crosswalks, this existing crosswalk, and asked also about establishing another crosswalk at the other end because a lot of students are now crossing to the businesses and the food mart here.”
Moule said the resolution makes sense from the DPW view and that a work order has been made to add a concrete pad where there is no concrete at the site of one of the proposed crosswalks.
“We’ve ordered flashing beacons that will be here in August,” Moule said. “When they’ll be installed depends a little bit. We’re going to be working with our Roads Division on that.”
Moule said there will be 10 to 12 sets of beacons for islandwide use that will be arriving for the county in August, and that the installation of two sets on Kekaha Road will be a high priority.
The resolution was unanimously passed by the five-member council.
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Ryan Collins, county reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or rcollins@thegardenisland.com.
