Kaua‘i traffic signals are antiquated
Kaua‘i traffic signals are antiquated
It’s nice to finally see a new traffic signal installed on Kaua‘i at Kaumuali‘i Highway and its intersection with Laulea Street and Mahea Road near Hanapepe. However, I wonder how this intersection warranted a full traffic signal and not just another bottleneck roundabout.
It seems that the intersection of Kuhio Highway and Mailihuna Road on the Eastside of Kaua‘i has far more traffic than this intersection near Hanapepe. Maybe someone knowledgeable from the Hawai‘i Department of Transporation can write a piece in TGI explaining and providing us with the actual average daily traffic.
Well, let’s hope that this new signal includes the newest technology with “advanced detection” so we won’t be sitting at a red light for no reason at all.
And let’s hope that the DOT has someone here on Kaua‘i who is properly trained and educated on the new technology. For those of you who do a lot of driving around Kaua‘i, did you ever notice that when you are sitting in crawling traffic on Kaua‘i, it’s very often within a mile or so from a traffic signal?
In fact, the only reason that roundabouts work better (sometimes) than traffic signals is because our traffic signals are antiques. They’re not operating properly, and they lack modern features and technology.
Maybe our “representation” to the state Legislature can help by requesting a complete upgrade of our traffic signals on Kaua‘i.
I’d like to add one more thing. The word “yield” does not mean “stop.” Maybe those signs should be changed to “merge.”
L.J. Arruda, Kapa‘a
Modern roundabouts are proven safer than signals and have less daily delay.
YIELD means ‘prepare to stop’. It is a common mistake to believe that no one stops at a roundabout. Drivers are to stop for pedestrians and for any traffic approaching their entry. It is not a merge. Traffic in the circular roadway has the right of way and does not have to adjust to let you enter.
Signal light is needed there to allow the children to safely cross the street so can walk to Eleele School.
Ala, you’re absolutely correct. And that is my point. So why then do we have a roundabout right next to Wilcox School; next to Chiefess school, and the newest one just down the hill from Kapaa school? And another one under construction right in front to Kapaa school and St. Cathrines???
Seems to me, a properly working signal, with up-to-date technology would surely be a lot safer for the kids than a roundabout.
I hope that the new signal there near Hanapepe is one with the newest technology and not a hand-me-down from somewhere else.
It’s not all bad news with our traffic signals. I’ve noted that the signal at Puhi Rd and Hwy 50 now works like it was designed to. Before, the light would cycle through all phases, including left turn arrows even if there were no cars waiting to turn left. Now, it has eliminated that and seems to detect when cars arrive at the intersection, from which direction, and it acts accordingly. Kudos to whomever is responsible for updating this signal and bringing it into the 21st Century.
People seem to be getting used to the roundabouts. When I first drove in Europe it was challenging. I still see people not understanding what to do!! Now it’s easier, normal. Maybe the reduced cost and lack of maintenance will be a benefit in the long run.
Will the guy who fixed the Puhi light please fix the light in Kalāheo? It takes 5 minutes to turn left from Papalina.
Chill out, it’s Kauai, not Oahu. Or how about we turn the center of the island into one big cement freeway? The answer to your traffic woes is less rental cars, like in April 2020, traffic was sweet back then, no roundabouts needed!
The stoplight in Eleele is going to just bring a headache to the westside. A roundabout would have been a much better choice. The traffic will merely backup into the other stoplight by the market. This will be worse when the new houses are built.
Makana, your judgement of signals is clouded by the obsolete and ill maintained signals that we have on this island.
There should be a law that unless you are from Kauai just don’t mess with traffic issues you seem to know nothing about.,,, Trafifc stopped for hours due to tree trimming on the highway anyone?
The half-way bridge tree trimming and ground weed whacking issue.. now days….they are not allowed to spray weed poison so need to weed wack the weeds— but would be so good if they could plant a solid ground cover that would prevent ginni grass from growing. We need some community input to come up with a sustainable maintenance plan that will have less impact on traffic…
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/9/10/1726
These are new ideas to increase capacita and safety of roundabouts
New traffic light on Kaumualii Highway in Eleele has been a long time waited for!
I would have preferred overhead walk thru for the kids to get to school/ home safely on that part of the highway. The crosswalk and traffic light will help keep the children safe.
This would have been much cheaper and easier for everyone!!!