H-1 and H-2 freeway lights to be fixed by February

The questions just keep coming in. Remember, if you have a traffic-related quandary, send it my way and I’ll see if I can find an answer for you.

Question: What is the state doing about darkened stretches of the freeways?

Answer: Thanks to copper thieves, the lights have been out at parts of the H-1 and H-2 freeways.

But the state Department of Transportation is working on turning them back on. Replacing copper wiring for the lights along the H-1 freeway between the Makakilo and Kunia interchanges will cost about $815,000.

Turning the lights on at the H-2 freeway from the Waiawa to Leilehua interchanges will cost about $2.4 million. Both projects are undergoing environmental best-management-practice reports to be submitted to the state Department of Health for review.

Both projects could begin in November and should be completed by February. Paul’s Electrical Contracting Inc. is the contractor for both projects.

Q: There is a two-way street where both lanes in either direction are quite wide (two cars could fit side by side) and there are no lane divider markings on either side. If a car wants to turn left, is it legal for cars behind it to go around it? Or must cars wait behind that car in order to proceed?

A: According to state law, you can only overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle on a two-way street or highway with lanes marked for two or more lines of vehicles in that direction.

Honolulu police Maj. Kurt Kendro says the intersection of Ward Avenue and Hotel Street is a good example, where Hotel Street is wide enough for two cars.

Drivers who want to turn right onto Ward will often pass a vehicle trying to turn left onto Ward.

“There have been occasions in which the driver who was waiting to turn left changes his or her mind and turns right, colliding with the vehicle that is waiting to turn right,” Kendro said. “In this case the vehicle that pulls alongside the right of the vehicle would be in violation and be at fault in a crash.”

Interesting to know! I’d also like to add that state law says on one-way streets you may pass as long as the roadway is free from obstructions and that it is wide enough for two or more lines of vehicles. But don’t do that on two-way streets without lane dividers.

Q: Is it illegal to park on the sidewalk in a residential district? If it is illegal, why is the law not enforced?

A: City ordinances do not allow parking on any sidewalk. Honolulu police say the law is regularly enforced by officers.

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Reach Gene Park at gpark@staradvertiser.com, or Twitter as@GenePark.