The Hawaii County Public Works Department is seeking an additional $500,000 for the Kapiolani Street extension project four months after construction began.
The Hawaii County Public Works Department is seeking an additional $500,000 for the Kapiolani Street extension project four months after construction began.
Allan Simeon, project engineer, said the additional funds would be used to replace unstable soil and provide a contingency for other unforeseen issues that might arise.
“If we don’t need it, we’re not going to spend it,” he said.
The County Council’s Finance Committee will consider the request today.
If approved by the full council at a later date, the amendment would increase the project’s cost to $15.2 million.
Simeon said the soil will be replaced with a rock mixture to provide more stability on the Lanikaula Street side of the extension, which will cross Waiakea Stream.
He said the unsuitable material wasn’t discovered by soil samples taken before construction started in March.
Construction was expected to last 14 months; Simeon said the timeline hasn’t changed.
When completed, the extension will eliminate the half-mile gap on Kapiolani Street between Lanikaula and Mohouli streets.
The gap is located near the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the project is expected to improve traffic flow between downtown and the campus.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.