H-1 roadwork will force detours through Kalihi

Drivers traveling east on the H-1 freeway at night this week will encounter full lane closures between Middle and Liliha streets, and they’ll have to use alternate routes through Kalihi, state transportation officials say.

The closures will occur from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday night through Thursday morning, according to the state Department of Transportation. The Middle Street tunnel from the airport viaduct and the Kalihi Street onramp will also shut down, the agency stated in a news release.

DOT recommended that drivers approaching that area on the H-1 either use Nimitz Highway or exit at Middle Street and use Dillingham Boulevard as alternate routes. Drivers can then re-enter the freeway via the School Street/Liliha onramp.

It further recommended that drivers approaching on the H-201 Moanalua Freeway exit at the Fort Shafter/King Street offramp and then turn left onto Middle Street. Middle Street then veers east and becomes School Street. From there, drivers can access the Liliha onramp back onto H-1.

(Drivers heading east on King Street through Kalihi should keep in mind there’s a no-left-turn sign onto Liliha Street at that intersection.)

The state agency said in its news release that it needs to shut down the eastbound freeway in order to install more vehicle counting detectors in the pavement of each lane. If the work is done Tuesday night the closures may not be needed on Wednesday, the final night, according to DOT.