Whatever Happened To...
An update on past news
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Construction of route to Queen’s from H-1 set to begin in October
Question: What ever happened to plans to improve access to the Queen's Medical Center from the H-1 freeway and alleviate traffic in the Punchbowl area?
Answer: Construction to build a right turn on the Kinau Street offramp to Lusitana Street is slated to begin in October. The turn will provide motorists traveling east on the H-1 freeway with an alternate route to Queen's Medical Center and the Physician's Office Buildings, state transportation officials said.
A contractor is expected to be selected next month. Officials estimate construction will be completed in July 2009, said hospital spokeswoman Nicole Pickens.
Queen's recently received approval from the state Department of Transportation to move forward with the project, estimated to cost $8.8 million.
Queen's is seeking federal funding to aid in construction costs.
Improvements to Lusitana Street are still in the planning stages.
Transportation officials said the improvements, to be done in a separate project, would allow motorists to access the Vineyard Boulevard onramp to the eastbound H-1 from Lusitana Street.
Currently, motorists can go only from Vineyard Boulevard to Lusitana Street. The improvements will provide an alternate route for motorists instead of going around the block and using Punchbowl Street to get to the Vineyard Boulevard onramp.
Motorists also use Kinau Street to get to the Ward Avenue onramp, transportation officials said.
This update was written by Star-Bulletin reporter Rosemarie Bernardo.
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