Extending roads across five lots between subdivisions would be enough to connect upper Puna communities and provide another route in case of an emergency, an ad hoc committee concluded.
But accomplishing that goal at once, rather than piecemeal, could prove tricky as agreements for access, maintenance and acquisition of private parcels would need to be established with several community associations and individual landowners.
Those were among the issues the committee, consisting of several County Council members and leaders of the Puna Community Development Plan’s connectivity subcommittee, discussed during a public meeting Wednesday in the Hilo council chambers.
Making the connections might require an unusual arrangement, with the county likely owning small segments of private roads, some of which might be substandard. But, with the communities lacking another route if Highway 11 is shut down, the committee members said the county needs to take action.
“Let’s get it done,” said Puna Councilman Danny Paleka.
“This is about safety,” he added.
Solving Puna’s connectivity problems has been the focus of the PCDP subcommittee for the past few years.
The group finished a report in 2014 highlighting 48 locations where roads could be extended to connect the district’s large private subdivisions. For upper Puna, the members noted five connection points as priorities that could most easily establish another route from Volcano to Keaau.
Another two were identified as providing new access points to Highway 11.
“We’re looking at biting off a real small little job to make it safer for residents of Puna,” said committee member Patti Pinto.
Proposed connection points include bridging gaps between Kaleponi Road in Fern Forest and Punahele Street in Eden Roc, Punahele Street and Apele Road in Kopua Farmlots, Waimaka O Pele Road in Kopua Farmlots and Orchid Street in Fern Acres, Orchid Street and Uhini Ana Road in Hawaiian Acres, and Pulelehua Road and Pohaku Drive.
The council established the ad hoc committee last year in hopes of putting the plan into action.
Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan, who led the meeting, said he will need to set up another meeting to provide answers to the legal questions and other issues discussed Wednesday.
By the end of the year, they plan to have a report ready for the Council to review.
The group also is tasked with addressing connectivity issues in lower Puna, highlighted by a deadly traffic wreck on Highway 130 that snarled traffic for several hours last month.
Pinto said they are addressing upper Puna first since improvements to Government Beach Road and Railroad Avenue because of the lava flow resulted in some progress on the issue.
Railroad Avenue remains gated and only used during emergencies.
Several committee members agreed the road should be open to act as a proper alternate route.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
