A portion of the PM Contraflow Lane project is set to open Sunday morning which will hope to alleviate commute times for Ewa-bound motorists, the state Department of Transportation said.

With the modifications, there will be four left lanes that will proceed to H-1 westbound at the H-1/H-2 Split, instead of the current three, officials said.  Two right lanes will proceed to H-2 northbound at the Split. A new lane will open just after the concrete barriers bordering the construction site near the Waipahu exit. 

A section of the newly widened H-1 Pearl City Viaduct will also be open for Ewa-bound motorists .

The Department said it plans to open 400 foot sections of the project every two weeks until the new right lane eventually meets with the Waimalu off-ramp.

“Motorists heading to the H-2 Freeway and Waipahu will need to alter their lane selections, so we ask that everyone drive carefully and with aloha as we all adjust,” said Ed Sniffen, Highways Division Deputy Director.  “The new H-1 westbound lanes in Pearl City will be opened in segments as work is completed to give motorists the earliest possible benefits.”

The department said that none of the lanes have been narrowed and that speed limits will remain the same.

The overall project is expected to be completed in September, officials said.