Question: When will the construction behind Ala Wai School on what was formerly the school field and playground be completed? It has been more than six years since the city took over the property for the sewer improvements, and the field has yet to be returned to the school for its physical education activities.
Answer: The contractor working to remediate and restore the mauka side of the Ala Wai Canal, parts of which have been off-limits since a major sewer line break in 2006, has until the end of the year to finish up.
But depending on how the next few weeks goes, either all or just parts of the closed areas could reopen as early as November.
A main concern now is to make sure that the new grass gets established, said Chris Takashige, director of the city Department of Design and Construction.
An inspection and walk-through of the remediation project is scheduled in three weeks.
“We’ll make a determination if it’s acceptable, at which time we can declare ‘substantial completion’ and open it up to the public,” Takashige said. However, if some of the work does not meet contract requirements or “if we find something that may be detrimental to public safety and health, the opening could be delayed.”
Depending on if and where deficiencies are found, all, none or parts of the closed areas could reopen.
Work includes restoring the walking and biking path, grass in the softball field and playground areas, trees and park lighting.
Problems with Oahu’s aging sewer system literally burst into the community’s consciousness in March 2006 when a 42-inch sewer main on Kaiolu Street broke, spilling sewage into the Ala Wai Canal.
That led to the installation of a 5,135-foot emergency wastewater bypass pipe, known as the “black noodle,” in the canal while a new underground “Beachwalk Force Main” was built.
The “black noodle” was removed earlier this year, signaling the pending end of the seven-year project.
For more information, check the Beachwalk Force Main website, www.beachwalkforcemain.com.
Question: For a number of years the Alu Street gate to Kalihi Valley Homes has been closed. But the left-turn lane (no U-turn) from Likelike Highway to the Alu Street driveway was never closed. People routinely used the area in front of the gate as a loading zone. Last year KVH installed white metal poles and chains up to the crosswalk to block the makeshift loading zone area. Yet the left-turn lane and signal continue to exist, going nowhere legally. Now drivers are using the crosswalk and the right edge of the town-bound Likelike lane as a loading zone and turnaround. I have witnessed a number of near hits. Why doesn’t the state Department of Transportation close the left-turn lane from Likelike to discourage this dangerous situation?
Answer: The left-turn lane will be closed.
The DOT’s Highways Division has been monitoring the location and is preparing to remove the left-turn lane, a spokesman said.
“The lane will be striped over, flexible delineators installed and necessary modifications will be made to signage and traffic signals to eliminate turns,” he said. “Work orders are anticipated by the end of October, and the changes will take place in the following months.”
Although the driveway was closed to traffic entering the housing area, the DOT had not received official notification that the change was permanent, nor any requests that the left-turn lane be permanently closed, he said.
Meanwhile he reminds motorists that stopping in a crosswalk is prohibited by Section 15-14.1 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu.
Mahalo
To whoever found my debit card at Foodland in Ewa Beach and turned it in to the courtesy counter. There are still honest people in the world. — Pearl
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
