Traffic runs smoothly during full H-1 eastbound closures

Perhaps it was the much ado that led, thankfully, to nothing much.

The state Department of Transportation’s much-heralded H-1 rehabilitation project — aka Carmageddon Hawaii — continued Monday with a second consecutive night of a complete shutdown in the eastbound lanes of the H-1 freeway from Likelike Highway to Ward Avenue.

And if the early indications were correct, it appeared the department’s months-long effort to inform the public about the potentially snarl-inducing closure was successful in encouraging Hono­lulu drivers to adjust their schedules or seek alternative routes.

Roughly an hour into Monday night’s closure, traffic was running smoothly in the Kalihi and downtown areas surrounding the affected 3.5-mile stretch of highway. And while the volume of cars traveling along Vineyard Boulevard, North King Street, Dillingham Boulevard and Nim­itz Highway may have been higher than usual, there was no noticeable congestion or delay heading east.

The yearlong project to repair and repave the state’s most heavily used highway kicked off Sunday night with road crews closing all eastbound lanes from Likelike to Ward from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Despite initial concern that the shutdown would create delays of up to a half-hour, the DOT reported no significant problems on the first night.

Monday night’s closure was the last full shutdown scheduled for this year. According to the DOT, there could be as many as 120 full shutdowns next year as crews return to repave and re-stripe the highway.

In the interim, drivers can expect partial lane closures Sunday through Thursday each week. One lane in each direction will be closed at 9 p.m., followed by an additional lane in each direction at 11 p.m. This will leave just one lane in either direction for traffic.

The closures will end at 4 each morning.

The stretch of highway undergoing rehabilitation has not been repaired in 15 years. The entire project is expected to cost $42 million, 80 percent of which will be covered by federal funds.