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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Tree-trimming trash near H-3 will be cleared
Question: There are a number of cut trees above the H-3 tunnel, town-bound. It looks like the trimmers just left all the rubbish there. Are they going to clean it up?
Answer: Fortunately, this was not a case of dumped stumps, as when albizia trees along the H-2 freeway were cut, prompting an outcry from the Outdoor Circle and other tree lovers.
In this case, a contractor for the state Department of Transportation cut overhanging trees when the H-3 freeway was closed overnight for tunnel cleaning in the Honolulu-bound direction on Oct. 20.
An 80-foot-tall albizia that was "leaning heavily" over the H-3 "Hospital Rock" tunnel entrance and smaller albizias near the tunnel opening were cut, said DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa.
The contractor did more trimming this past weekend, when the Kaneohe-bound tunnel was closed.
If all the debris has not been removed by this morning, arrangements will be made to take care of it later.
"Since the freeway is completely closed in one direction for the tunnel cleaning, it is the safest time to perform the tree maintenance work for the sake of the crews and the driving public," he said.
When asked if the Outdoor Circle was notified of this work -- it was not consulted before the H-2 tree cutting -- Ishikawa said it had not been, "and we reminded our staff to do so as a courtesy, even if the tree is being taken down because of a safety issue."
Bob Loy, environmental programs director for the group, said it has been working with the Transportation Department over the past few weeks "to prevent the lack of communication that caused problems with the H-2."
After the outcry over the removal of the H-2 trees, the contractor, Imua Landscaping Co., illegally dumped stumps and branches from the cut trees along the freeway near Kipapa Gulch bridge. It was ordered to clean up the mess.
Q: The old sewer line along Kalaheo Avenue in Kailua never emitted an odor even though the sewage treatment plant in Aikahi has odor problems. However, ever since the city spent several years and several millions of dollars repairing the sewer line, smelly sewer gas is emitted from manholes along Kalaheo. I have encountered this fairly strong odor from manholes between Kapaa Street and Palione Place. Why is sewer gas escaping from the new sewer line, and is it dangerous?
A: When workers from the city Department of Environmental Services' Collection System Maintenance Branch checked the area last Tuesday, they did not detect any odors emanating from the manholes.
However, they did see "an open clean-out (pipe) without a cap" located on one property, according to the supervisor. That pipe was capped immediately.
A cleanout pipe runs from the sewage system to an opening at ground level.
Workers also sealed all the manholes in the area that day, the supervisor said, so that should prevent any more foul odors.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
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