Broken utility pole snarls Oahu traffic

The shutdown of all lanes of Nimitz Highway in Kalihi left drivers scrambling for alternative routes Thursday as a Hawaiian Electric Co. crew worked into the night to replace a damaged pole that triggered pau hana gridlock.

A traffic collision at the intersection of Nimitz Highway and Kalihi Street around 3 p.m. sheered off a utility pole at its base and moved the pole 5 feet from its original foundation, HECO spokeswoman Shannon Tangonan said.

The pole was left leaning but still standing.

Tangonan said repair crews originally hoped to have the pole replaced by 8 p.m. But even as police reopened all eastbound lanes of Nimitz Highway and one of three westbound lanes, Tangonan said crews needed an additional three hours and hoped to have a new pole installed by 10:30 p.m.

“It’s going to take a while,” Tangonan said.

The collision at the start of commute traffic left drivers scrambling on suddenly crowded side streets off Nimitz or along Ala Moana Boulevard, which turns into Nimitz just past downtown Honolulu.

Kalani Siangco, 37, was driving to his second job at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport when he got caught in the unexpected traffic tie-up in Kakaako.

Siangco had inched his way makai along Punchbowl Street. But instead of continuing onto Ala Moana Boulevard, he mistakenly turned left onto Pohukaina Street and then found himself heading mauka on South Street.

“I start at 6:10 p.m. at the airport,” Siangco said at 6:08 p.m. “All I did is go right around the block. Now I’m right back to where I started. I tried to call in but they aren’t answering the phone.”

Michael Sofa, a 39-year-old drywall worker, had gotten off work at 5:30 p.m. in Kakaako when he saw mauka-bound traffic backing up on South Street.

Unaware of where the actual problem was, Sofa decided to hold off going home.

He quickly developed two options: “Go for a walk to the beach or keep Highway Inn busy for a while.

“I live in Kalihi, but the rest of the crew goes to Kunia,” he said.

Sofa invited co-worker John Tarinay, 26, of Kunia to join him. But Tarinay was reluctant, saying his wife and two kids were waiting at home.

“I don’t know,” Tarinay told Sofa. “I want to be home as soon as possible.”

“Right when we walked out, we seen everything bumper to bumper,” Tarinay said. “We knew something is wrong. It’s going to be a fun drive home.”

Kelvin Osborne, who works downtown, said he was heading back to the office when he got stuck in traffic.

Osborne said from his sport utility vehicle that he was getting updates on the radio. “Everybody’s looking for a shortcut,” he said.

While many were frustrated by the delay, Kailua resident Michele Saldana, 41, wore a big, toothy smile while sitting in traffic.

“I don’t mind,” she said after rolling down her window. “You got to have a positive outlook. It happens. It’s life.”

After being stuck in traffic for 15 to 20 minutes, Saldana estimated she still had at least another 30 minutes of drive time to get over Pali Highway to get home.

Still, Saldana sympathized with those heading west who were still stuck.

“I can handle,” Saldana said.