Happy First Friday! Lots of questions this month, so I’m going to get right to it. Remember to send any traffic questions my way.
Question: I noticed the state removed some light poles along Pali Highway near the Craigside and Brookside condos and continuing farther up the highway before the Wyllie Street exit. Why were these lights removed?
Answer: The state removed the poles because they needed to be replaced.
About three months ago, state inspectors discovered that the poles in that area were badly corroded. The corrosion was so bad, the state removed all but two of the poles from the Wyllie interchange to the Pauoa interchange. That means 14 lights are out for 2,400 feet of the highway.
"Since we had the poles out, we checked the wiring and found out that it is in need of changing as well," says state Department of Transportation spokesman Dan Meisenzahl. "However, the conduits are clogged, so we cannot change the wire without removing the conduit, which is underground and between the guardrail."
To replace the poles and the conduit, the guardrails need to be removed for excavation. That means the lights might be out for six months to a year. The entire project is expected to cost about $750,000.
Q: What happened to the state’s plan to install an afternoon Zipper Lane?
A: The contract was awarded in December to Hawaiian Dredging. The contractor is waiting for approval from the state of its Quality Assurance/Quality Control plan.
The plan details how the contractor will coordinate design review with affected agencies, provide inspections and ensure the contract meets the requirements.
The notice to proceed is expected in December so the contractor can begin to design the project. Construction should begin around June. The afternoon Zipper Lane would provide an extra westbound lane on the H-1 freeway.
Q: Will there be a new shuttle service at Honolulu Airport?
A: Yes, SpeediShuttle of Maui won the contract. Roberts Hawaii, the original contractor, protested the state’s decision to go with SpeediShuttle, but the protest was dismissed.
SpeediShuttle, with its 11-passenger Mercedes-Benz shuttle vans, will serve Waikiki and eventually most of Oahu, going as far as Makaha, Hauula and the North Shore.
Service is expected to begin on Oct. 16.
Reach Gene Park at gpark@staradvertiser.com, or Twitter as @GenePark.
