Repaving in Kailua delayed by planned utility project

Question: I live on Kalua­moo Street in Kailua. We got a notice about two months ago that our street was going to be repaved along with many adjacent streets. But they skipped our street. When I called Grace Pacific, the contractor, to find out why, I was told they were told not to repave our street because of a scheduled Board of Water Supply project. I called the BWS and spoke with several people, but nobody knew anything about the project. I finally found someone who said he thought the project was going to begin in November 2014, when it was going to be sent out for bids. But nobody really seems to know about the BWS project and when it will really begin. We’ve been told about this mysterious project now for the last 11 years that we’ve lived here, and so far nothing has been done.

There are marks on the street, and they’ve been here a long time and they’re about faded. Once the repavers are gone with their heavy equipment, I’m concerned that our street will never get repaved.

Can you look into this to get our street repaved or get the BWS project taken care of?

Answer: The city’s policy is to hold a two-year moratorium on digging up newly paved roads, said Mark Yona­mine, deputy director of the Department of Design and Construction.

Because of that, and because the Board of Water Supply is planning to install fire hydrants on Kalua­moo Street next year, Kalua­moo will not be repaved this time around. But it’s not yet been determined when the resurfacing of your street and several others in the area can be done.

According to the city Department of Facility Maintenance, Kalua­moo and several other streets will be scheduled for resurfacing after the BWS project is completed — pending the availability of funding.

Because of the impact on road resurfacing, the BWS said it is working to expedite its project. Construction could start as early as May and should be completed by November 2014, a spokes­man said.

Facility Maintenance coordinates planned street resurfacing/reconstruction work with the different utilities “to ensure we do not pave a street only to have it dug up in less than one year,” said Director Ross Sasa­mura.

“As much as we want to immediately repave all city streets in need of attention, we must also recognize the needs our local utilities have to maintain or upgrade infrastructure below our streets,” he said.

ADDING HYDRANTS

You weren’t far off when you said the BWS project has been in the works for years — more than nine years. Initially the project was to replace water mains.

The BWS awarded a design contract in February 2004 to replace mains along several streets in Kailua, notifying residents who would be affected, the spokes­man said. However, design work was halted in December 2006 after a reassessment of the project concluded the mains did not need to be replaced.

The new “Fire Hydrant Installations at Various Locations in Kailua” project will address “nonstandard fire hydrant spacing” and involve adding new hydrants along Kaluamoo Street, Makua Street, Ohana Street, Kailua Road, Pouli Road and a portion of Aumoe Road and Uluoa Street.

When completed, the project will provide residents with hydrants spaced 350 feet apart.

MAHALO

To the young men who helped our dog Chloe after she was hit by a car near Noho­loa Loop in Mili­lani in July. HPD officer Lake told us they got her off the road and stayed and comforted her. We are so appreciative that she wasn’t alone. Mahalo also to officer Lake, and Kathryn and Tina Kimmons from the Hawaiian Humane Society for going above and beyond in helping us bring her home. — Nani and Keola

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