Road fixes needed
Road fixes needed
Kawaihae Road is in dire need of safety and traffic-flow improvements.
There are four highway projects that will help mitigate the traffic congestion and safety deficiencies in this area. Replacing the aging Waiaka Bridge is at the top of this list.
Celebrity Roseanne Barr is opposed to this project because she wants to preserve Hawaii’s history. I strongly think this is a shortsighted view. The existing bridge has serious safety and traffic-flow deficiencies. These issues cannot be fixed unless the Waiaka Bridge is replaced.
This bridge was constructed in 1932, which raises a lot of questions about the its structural integrity. If anything happens to the Waiaka Bridge, it will block one of the lifelines for cargo arriving and leaving Kawaihae Harbor.
Constructing a mini-bypass from Mahua Street and Mamalahoa Highway is the second project that should move forward to provide traffic relief. This proposed highway will reduce the horrible traffic congestion in the core of Waimea town.
In addition, it will provide an additional route for cross-island truckers and an alternative emergency route.
The proposed mini-bypass only is part of the solution to improve Kawaihae Road, so I suggest reconstructing the makai segment of Kawaihae Road between HPA and Kawaihae/Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway.
This part of Kawaihae Road is in dire need of safety improvements, such as straightening the existing roadway, adding wider shoulders, and a mauka-bound passing lane such as what they have on the new west side Saddle Road phase.
Lastly, I strongly think the existing Kawaihae Road/Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway intersection should be signalized.
Yes, adding additional intersection roadway capacity will help. However, I strongly think this intersection should be signalized, too. The amount of cargo traffic going through Kawaihae Harbor will continue to grow, so these safety and traffic-flow issues will become more and more obvious with time.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona