LIHU‘E — Efforts toward making the Kawaihau, Hauaala and Mailihuna roads intersections safer continues.
The Kaua‘i County Council discussed the project and received a legal document regarding the issuance of a management and construction right-of-entry permit in Kawaihau between the county and the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources during a special council meeting of the council on Wednesday.
The right of entry is needed for a certification to be issued by the Department of Transportation, Acting County Engineer Troy Tanigawa told the council. The county is working toward a July 5 schedule to have everything submitted to the proper entities.
The project first came about over seven years ago when the public sought improvements to the intersections and hosted a series of workshops. This project is part of a Complete Streets project, which received 80% of funding by the Federal Highway Administration with a 20% county match, includes a roundabout, sidewalks, flashing beacons, medians and sheltered bus stops.
The two-month construction project is anticipated to begin early next year.
This specific part of the construction that the council discussed pertains to two-thirds of an acre near Kapa‘a High School. The county plans to utilize about a tenth of an acre to help build a sidewalk along the county’s property line. The rest will remain a grassy, open space.
A destroyed culvert by the school will also be moved, and a low point by Kawaihau Road will, in the future, capture water.
Vice Chair Ross Kagawa, who has worked at the school, has worked with Rep. Nadine Nakamura to help get paving for the high school’s parking lot. He also thanked the county for recognizing that the sidewalk is a much-needed addition, as many students walk to the school.
In the 2021 budget, the county has allocated $66,672 toward the project.
Since April, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation has closed traffic on Kuhio Highway near mile marker 10 to address bridge width, load capacity, bridge railing and transitions.
The project is also working on the intersection at Mailihuna Road, including widening, lighting, signing, pavement markings, drainage and traffic signal installation.
Currently, traffic is rerouted onto the temporary Kapa‘a Stream Bridge.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
