With construction of 3 miles of the rail guideway from East Kapolei completed, crews will now move into areas populated by businesses and residents to begin constructing the guideway in Waipahu.
Crews will start construction on the Fort Weaver Road overpass near Waipahu on Sunday, causing overnight lane closures through July 10.
Several rail columns have already been installed by contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West throughout the Waipahu area, with completion near Waipahu High School scheduled by next summer, according to Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials.
But some business owners and residents remain concerned that the work along Farrington Highway will be an ongoing disturbance.Construction of the guideway from East Kapolei has occurred primarily in nonresidential areas until now.
Rito Saniatan, Waipahu Neighborhood Board chairman, said while no new concerns are surfacing about guideway construction, many remain worried about traffic and dust.
And Chuck Wheatley, a member of the board who lives in an apartment complex along Farrington Highway, said he is frustrated with construction-related noise. He maintains that the situation will likely get worse with the work passing through residential areas in Waipahu.
"Everybody is upset about this," Wheatley said. "But what can you do?"
HART spokesman Scott Ishikawa said rail officials host a business outreach program and will ask residents and owners for feedback and suggestions.
"The contractors will be canvassing both the residents and businesses before the construction begins," Ishikawa said, adding that crews will probably continue to canvass the area during the guideway construction. "We also want to get ahead of the curve before the construction starts."
Southbound lanes of the Fort Weaver Road overpass will be closed between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. A detour will be available onto Farrington Highway via the Ewa offramp, which will lead back onto Fort Weaver Road.
Northbound lanes of the overpass will be closed between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. A detour will also be provided onto Farrington Highway via the Waipahu offramp. Drivers along Farrington Highway can turn left onto Leoku Street and then left onto Waipahu Street to re-enter Fort Weaver Road.
