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
