More overdue road work on some of Oahu’s busiest arteries is on the way, adding to the lengthy repair projects already tying up traffic across the island.
Starting March 24, crews will begin overhauling Vineyard Boulevard in town — a road resurfacing and reconstruction project that’s expected to take nine months and require regular lane closures during the day, transportations officials say. The $8.8 million effort will stretch from Palama Street to the eastbound H-1 freeway onramp, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Additionally, road resurfacing on Kalanianaole Highway from West Hind Drive to Hanauma Bay is slated to begin this summer. That work will also require daytime lane closures because DOT was unable to get approvals for overnight work, DOT Director Glenn Okimoto said at a news conference Wednesday.
Okimoto began that conference by thanking drivers for their patience over the past year or so as city, state and rail-related road work has become omnipresent on Oahu.
"We know there’s a lot of work going on," Okimoto said. "There’s a lot of work coming up."
About 35,000 vehicles travel on Vineyard each day on average, DOT officials say. The upcoming work there will overlap with the ongoing major H-1 repairs in town that are expected to wrap up in July.
That $42 million highway repaving and rehabilitation project will require numerous one-direction, full overnight lane closures. When those overnight closures take place, state transportation officials expect Vineyard to be available as an alternative route.
Many of the repairs to state roads that are underway had been put off for years, they add.
After Wednesday’s conference, Okimoto said transportation leaders in prior years neglected to complete much necessary road maintenance and repair work, leaving it to his staff to complete myriad projects on some of the island’s busiest thoroughfares on top of each other.
Vineyard was last resurfaced in 1995, according to the DOT. That work should be done every 10 to 15 years, state Highways Administrator Alvin Takeshita said. The H-1 rehabilitation in town had been previously avoided because of the inconvenience for commuters, Takeshita added.
The Vineyard work will include extending the left-hand turn lanes on Palama and Liliha streets, replacing damaged curbs and sidewalks, and installing more energy-efficient traffic signals. Drivers can expect to see one lane closed in each direction from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
They can further expect to see one lane closed on the westbound H-1 Vineyard offramp 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and one lane closed on Vineyard’s eastbound offramp 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
