WAILUKU >> Planning officials are looking at turning an unused cane haul road into a route to relieve congestion on a west Maui highway.

Maui News reports an environmental assessment is under way for the proposed project that would extend and improve a street near Honoapiilani Highway, which ranks among the county’s busiest.

Southbound traffic on the highway is expected to increase by 50 percent in five years. The estimated cost of the project in 2013 was $36 million.

Department of Public Works Director David Goode said the search for private and federal funding sources will start after the environmental assessment is completed.

He said construction plans will probably take two years to be approved.