City officials say a road-widening project should improve traffic flow on Harding Avenue in Kaimuki.

Paradigm Construction LLC will prepare this month to widen the Ewa-bound lane on Harding at 11th Avenue and at 5th Avenue. The project will split the lane into two lanes to allow vehicles to proceed on Harding instead of waiting behind a vehicle to make a left turn onto the westbound H-1 freeway onramps.

The $2.6 million project is fully funded by federal stimulus funds and is expected to take 11 months to complete.

"This will provide a turn base so that car can get out of your way while they’re waiting so you can proceed on Harding Avenue," said Wayne Yoshioka, director of the Department of Transportation Services.

A left-turn lane also will be created in the Koko Head-bound direction on Harding at 11th Avenue.

Vernon Tam, chairman of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board, said area residents have waited for traffic improvements on the road for years. "People have been complaining about it forever."

Tam said they are concerned about the impact the project will have in the area as the holiday season approaches, a peak shopping season for Kaimuki businesses.

"The Christmas rush is what worries the merchants," he said. "Harding is the back door to the shopping areas."

Yoshioka said: "We’ll be sure that we will fully announce any start of the construction so people can be prepared for any kind of disruption that may come up."