Roadwork that caused traffic to back up for much of Monday in the downtown area will continue in some areas, particularly Nimitz Highway, through the rest of the week.
The state Department of Transportation had hoped traffic would be lighter this week while public school students are on spring break, spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter said. But roadwork, several accidents and stalled cars created problems through the first day of the workweek.
The department had scheduled emergency repairs for Ewa-bound lanes of the freeway from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. between the Lunalilo Street offramp and the School Street onramp. That work has been completed.
But Monday there were also accidents on the Moanalua Freeway town-bound at 11 a.m.; on the H-1 in the Ewa direction near Houghtailing at 10:43 a.m. and near the Vineyard offramp at 10:38 a.m.; and on the H-1 town-bound near the Waimalu offramp at 10:20 a.m.
A fatal traffic accident under the H-1 viaduct closed Nimitz and Kamehameha highways from about 4 until 8 a.m. while police investigated the crash, snarling traffic as well.
Surface streets were clogged as cars got off the freeway to avoid the congestion, only to be caught in more traffic on surface roads.
Some repair projects will continue this week, the state said.
Lanes will be closed on Nimitz Highway in both directions from Sand Island Access Road and Wai-akamilo Road for utility repairs. The Nimitz project continues through Friday from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Sluyter said the work on Nimitz is expected to last through April and involves major traffic signal modifications with trenching in some areas.
Also Monday, the Hono-lulu Board of Water Supply announced that next week two lanes at a time on South King Street at Ward Avenue will be closed.
The water agency said beginning Monday, workers will replace a 12-inch waterline installed in 1963 and an 8-inch waterline installed in 1959.
Roadwork at the busy intersection will take place Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Drivers are being advised to take alternate routes if possible.
For the latest information from the state, motorists can check the Transportation Department’s website at hidot.hawaii.gov and click on "road work." The website is updated weekly.
