Question: The last entrance to the Zipper Lane near the airport cutoff has been closed for several weeks now. Will this entrance reopen sometime in the near future?
Answer: No, it seems unlikely to reopen in the short term, due to safety concerns. The state Department of Transportation will reassess the situation at some point. DOT spokesman Tim Sakahara explains:
“The Zipper Lane now accommodates two lanes of traffic from the H1/H2 merge to the Pearl Harbor area from 5:30 to 9 a.m. weekdays, excluding holidays. In order to accomplish this improvement, crews have been working nightly to re-stripe the H-1 freeway westbound. The modifications near the Pearl Harbor Interchange required the closure of the fourth crossover entrance because the new pavement striping does not give sufficient space for vehicles to merge safely and efficiently. HDOT will reassess the crossover four location to determine if the entrance is safe enough to reopen, however at this time the entrance will remain closed until further notice.
“Carpool motorists in this area still have access to an HOV lane across the Airport Viaduct and can access Nimitz Highway via the dedicated HOV lane exit at the Keehi Interchange. We understand the closure of the fourth crossover entrance may inconvenience some motorists, and we greatly appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we add the second Zipper Lane that will benefit morning commuters.”
Q: I live on Lunalilo Home Road, and the lamppost fronting my home has been in the dark for about three weeks now. Who do I call to have the light bulb replaced or have the light element checked? It’s very dark at night, and people who wait for TheBus in the area are at risk of any danger.
A: You may call the city Traffic Electrical Maintenance Services Branch directly at 768-5300 to report any city streetlight that is not working. When you call, be prepared to provide the exact location, by street address or closest intersection.
Another option is to report the problem online to the city Department of Customer Services, which will forward your concern to the appropriate department. You can find the problem report form at 808ne.ws/cityform. It includes a checklist of common concerns (extinguished streetlights among them) and room to briefly describe the problem, including its location.
This online alternative allows you to print your report before clicking the submit button, which means you will have a copy for your records should you need to follow up.
TEMS is a subset of the city Public Building and Electrical Maintenance Division, which in turn is part of the city Department of Facility Maintenance. DFM oversees the maintenance of a broad swath of city facilities, including roads, traffic signs and markings, streetlights, bridges, streams, flood-control systems, buildings, vehicles and heavy equipment, and mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment for city parks.
Auwe
Auwe to the people who are too lazy to find parking at Costco Kapolei like everyone else and park right in the no-parking area, where it is clearly painted “no parking.” You block a whole lane, making it so that people can’t make a turn coming in or going out of the lot if there is another vehicle trying to get in or out. You upset so many people to save yourself walking a few extra steps. — Ray
Mahalo
I want to say thank you to all the people working hard to keep public property clean for the general public. I am talking about the bus stops especially. We working-class people have to take the bus. We don’t have the luxury of driving everywhere.
Some days it seems like as soon as somebody cleans someplace up, it’s back to being messed up the next day. … So I am saying “thank you” to encourage employees and volunteers to stick with it and keep making a difference for those of us who ride the bus every day. Some of us help, too. It’s a group effort. — Regular passenger
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.
