Faulty transformers
threaten street lights

State officials fear they could lose all street and traffic lights along the H-1 viaduct and Nimitz Highway if more of their electric transformers blow, as one of them did in Mapunapuna on Wednesday night.

Rod Haraga: He says the state is looking at replacing all transformers along Nimitz

The transformer, at the Koko Head end of Kilihau Street, blew out about 6 p.m. and left some nearby intersections without traffic signals yesterday morning. The affected areas included Middle Street and Kamehameha Highway, and Nimitz Highway around Ahua Road.

Though state workers eventually found enough replacement parts yesterday morning for a temporary fix, they could not get enough power to area street lights, which remained out last night.

State officials expected the street lights to be out for a couple of days and urged motorists to use caution in the areas of Middle Street and Dillingham Boulevard and for a portion of Nimitz Highway and the H-1 viaduct.

"We don't know what happened," said state Department of Transportation Director Rod Haraga.

Options for the state include shipping in a new transformer from the mainland and/or renting a generator for six months for about $20,000.

Haraga also said the state is looking at replacing all five of the transformers in the area along Nimitz Highway.

"These are 30-year-old transformers," he said. "If they all went out ... we could lose all traffic signals and street lights."