Closures of ramps slow traffic to a crawl

The daytime closure of the Pali off­ramp and the Punchbowl onramp westbound on H-1 freeway snarled drivers who might have expected smooth sailing on a Sunday.

The ramps both were closed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The work was part of the freeway rehabilitation project.

Repaving work on Vineyard Boulevard between Queen Emma and Miller streets Sunday also clogged traffic.

Vineyard Boulevard will be closed in both directions between Pali Highway and Punchbowl Street from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for pavement reconstruction, according to the state Department of Transportation.

More traffic challenges are on the way. Full H-1 freeway closures continue this week from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for striping, electrical and lighting work, installation of signs, reconstruction and joint repair of the Kapa­lama Bridge and the Palama Separation bridge.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, H-1 was scheduled to shut down in both directions until 5 a.m. Monday, from the Vineyard off­ramp to the Halona Street onramp westbound, and from the Vineyard off­ramp to the Liliha Street onramp eastbound.

On Sunday night, westbound drivers could not use the Punchbowl onramp, the School Street onramp or the Likelike on- and off­ramps. For drivers heading east, the Kalihi Street onramps, both mauka and makai, were closed. The Liliha Street onramp stayed open to eastbound drivers.

The public is encouraged to use alternate routes or avoid the area. For details, visit h1rehab.com.