By late next year, afternoon commuters traveling west on the H-1 freeway will have a Zipper Lane to use during rush hour, the state Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

The department held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for its new H-1 contraflow project, which it hopes will improve traffic flow between Pearl Harbor (near the Radford Drive overpass) and Waikele. The lane will run about 7.2 miles.

"The time saved for commuters translates directly into an improved quality of life, as motorists can get home to their families faster and save money on gas," Transportation Director Glenn Okimoto said in a news release. "Every vehicle that uses the P.M. contraflow will be removed from the normal traffic lanes, reducing congestion and travel times overall."

The project will be completed in phases, beginning with the repair of concrete sections in the innermost lanes of the Pearl City and Waimalu viaducts over an estimated period of 16 months, the state said. New barrier segments will be installed over a period of four months.

Federal money will cover 80 percent of the $82.1 million cost.