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STREETWISE

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
With this roundabout at Likini, Ala Ilima and Ala Lilikoi streets,
"it's much safer," says one Salt Lake resident.

Roundabouts a
direct route to slowing
dangerous traffic

With one in use in Makiki and a
new one in Salt Lake, the city
plans to build more

Roadwork Planned

By Pat Gee
Star-Bulletin

JAMES Higa says the intersection of Likini, Ala Ilima and Ala Lilikoi streets was "super dangerous."

Children walking to school were not safe from cars speeding through the accident-prone Salt Lake intersection, said Higa, who lives on one of the corners.

But now that the city is installing a "roundabout" to slow the traffic, "it's much safer for kids and me to cross the street," Higa said. "Before, I had to walk about a half-block down because I couldn't see traffic coming," he added.

A roundabout is a raised landscaped island in the middle of the intersection that forces cars to circle around it. The first roundabout was recently installed at Heulu and Keeaumoku streets in Makiki. This second roundabout cost about $275,000 and is "just about finished," said city Transportation Director Cheryl Soon.

Johnathan Kajiwara, an Ala Ilima resident, said the roundabout makes it easy to make a left turn onto Likini Street. He said he is always working in his yard and would see large trucks repeatedly go through the intersection without stopping. "Now it's impossible; they've got to slow down."

The only hitch to the roundabout may be that it could slightly slow the response time of fire trucks. The Fire Department's long ladder trucks had to take an alternate route during construction because temporary barriers around the roundabout island made the lanes too narrow for them to navigate.

The barriers slightly delayed a fire truck responding to a cardiac arrest case on Feb. 13, according to Capt. Randall Ishihara of the Moanalua Fire Station.

But now that the barriers to protect workers have been removed, large vehicles such as fire trucks can drive over the outermost lip of the island, so they don't have to take as much time negotiating the curve, Soon said.

Buses that had been detoured around the intersection are back on their regular routes, she added.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said the department has "no reservations" about being able to pass through the roundabout.

Another roundabout is planned for Ala Napunani Street in Salt Lake and at several other intersections around Oahu where speeding and collisions are frequent, Soon said.

Because the roundabouts are so new, television and newspaper advertisements have been appearing to let drivers know where they are and how drivers should negotiate them, Soon said.

---

Roadwork planned this week throughout Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach
Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street; and Farrington Highway from Piliokoe Bridge to Kahe Power Plant in the vicinity of Tracks Beach Park.

Waianae
Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia
Vicinity of Kunia Interchange to Waikele Stream Bridge and from Kupuna Loop to Farrington Highway; Kunia and Fort Weaver roads; H-1 Freeway ramps 5 and 5B and all other ramps in Kunia Interchange; and H-1 Freeway in the vicinity of Kunia Interchange.

Wahiawa
Kilani Avenue from Holoku Place to Ilima Street; and Mala and Ilima streets.

Mililani
Lanikuhana Avenue.

Waipio
Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; and Paiwa to Leoku streets.

Waipahu
Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road.

Aiea
Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street; Kaonohi Street between Alania and Kahapili streets; Kahapili Street; Maohu and Heleconia places; and Akaaka, Ilee, Kulawai and Kaamilo streets.

Pearl City
Komo Mai Drive from Waimano Home Road to Hookupa Street.

HONOLULU

Foster Village
Halupa Street from Haloa Drive to Punihi Street.

Halawa
H-3 from Halawa Valley to tunnel.

Salt Lake
Ala Ilima and Likini streets.

Kalihi
Kalihi Street and Likelike Highway between Makuahine and Wilson streets; School Street at Kapalama Avenue; Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Kamanaiki Street from Violet to Laulani streets; and Kapalama, School, Moani, Laulani, Puolani, Pahulu and Noe streets.

Liliha
Huli Street; and Vineyard Boulevard at Nuuanu Avenue.

Nuuanu
Kimo Drive Bridge; Kahawalu Drive; Ragsdale and Homelani places; Pali Highway at Waokanaka Street; Waokanaka Street to the Pali tunnel entrance; Dowsett Avenue; Waokanaka Street; and Old Pali Road.

Chinatown
King, River and Bethel streets.

Kakaako
Kapiolani Boulevard; Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Coral Street from Ala Moana to Auahi Street.

Kapiolani
Harding Avenue from Kapahulu to First avenues; and Kapiolani Interchange.

Moiliili
Kahoaloha Lane from Kuilei Lane to South King Street; and Kuulei Street from Kahoaloha Lane to University Avenue.

Punahou
Spreckels Street.

Kaimuki
Harding Avenue between Koko Head and 12th avenues; Sixth and Kaimuki avenues.

Waialae
Aha Nui Place; Ainakoa Avenue; Malia and Makaikoa streets; and H-1 Freeway, Koko Head to 21st avenues.

Waikiki
Ala Wai Boulevard between Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue; Ala Wai Promenade; Kalakaua Avenue and McCully Street between Ala Wai and Kapiolani boulevards; and Kalakaua Avenue from Kaiulani to Kapahulu avenues.

Wihelmina Rise
Maunahilu, Pakolu and Pili places; and Paula Drive between Maunahilu Place and Iwi Way.

WINDWARD OAHU

Kaaawa
Kamehameha Highway from Mahe Point to Lau Place.

Kahaluu
Ahuimanu Road; and Kialua, Hoopai and Poomau streets.

Hauula
Keala, Kawaipapa and Puuowaa roads; Waikulama Street; and Kamehameha Highway from Pipilani to Kaupau places.

Kailua
Kalanianaole Highway, Kamehameha Highway to Kapaa Quarry Road; Ililani Street from Mokapu Boulevard to Iliwahi Loop; Iliwahi Loop from Ilimano to Ilimano streets; Iliaina Street from Ililani Street to Iliwahi Loop and from Ilihau Street to end; Kalaheo Avenue between Wilikoki Place and Kaiholu Place and on Aumoe Street; Kalanianaole Highway to Kawainui Bridge; Alahaki and Akupa streets; Keolu Drive; and Akupa, Ilikaa and Nanaloko places.

Waimanalo
Kaaiai Street from Huli to Nakini streets; Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets; and Kina, Liku and Loho streets.

EAST OAHU

Kalani Valley
Kalaniiki Street and Kalanikai Place.

Hawaii Kai
Kalanianaole Highway from Nawiliwili Street to Sandy Beach Park Entrance; and from Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach.

Makapuu
Kalanianaole Highway from Makapuu Lookout to Kealahou Street.