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I’ve been getting a lot of reader questions lately, so much so that I’m considering expanding the reader mailbag format beyond first Fridays only.
I’ve received several in the past few weeks, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t try to answer them as soon as I can.
QUESTION: There has been much street repaving in Kaimuki recently, often on side streets that don’t need it. Streets that do need repaving, like 6th, 10th and Waialae avenues, remained unpaved. What’s the story on these main thoroughfares?
ANSWER: Portions of 6th and 10th avenues will be resurfaced sometime soon, according to the city Department of Design and Construction.
Agency acting Director Collins Lam says 6th Avenue between Alohea Street and Pahoa Avenue, and 10th Avenue between Alohea and Maunalei Avenue, will be resurfaced under the Rehabilitation of Localized Streets Phase 5B, which is currently under way.
Waialae Avenue between Kapahulu and 17th avenues, 6th Avenue between Pahoa and Harding avenues, and 10th Avenue under the H-1 freeway viaduct are also on the list for resurfacing. The projects are out for bid, Lam says.
Portions of 6th and 10th avenues were resurfaced in 2005 and 2006.
Q: In June 2010 the Lingle administration began a project to widen Kalanianaole Highway between Keahole Street and Hawaii Kai Drive. The project was to be completed in March at a cost of $1.84 million. What is the current estimate of the total cost for this project? What is the estimated completion date?
A: The project’s completion date has now been pushed back to October, according to the state Department of Transportation.
There were change orders needed in the contract because of unexpected issues with street lighting and traffic signal infrastructure brought to light by Hawaiian Electric Co., transportation spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said.
With the delays, the project is now expected to cost closer to $1.9 million.
When done, the stretch of road will be widened to three lanes from two.
“By putting in this third lane, it’ll relieve a lot of traffic congestion that affects traffic coming down the highway toward town and coming out of Keahole Street,” Meisenzahl said.
That’s it for this week. If you have more questions, drop me a line. I also started a Facebook page in an attempt to have more back and forth with readers. Like it at facebook.com/geneparkway. Have a great weekend and drive safe.
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Gene Park can be reached at gpark@staradvertiser.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/geneparkway or on Twitter as @GenePark.
