Mililani residents
eager for end
to freeway work

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

With one part completed, Mililani area residents are looking forward to completion of an H-2 Freeway interchange project that they hope will improve traffic flow and safety.

A new Honolulu-bound Mililani off-ramp, which routes drivers to Mehelua Parkway and then to either Mililani Town or Mililani Mauka, opened Aug. 13.

Under construction now in the overall $3.8 million project is an H-2 on-ramp from Mililani Mauka, which will loop under the Meheula Parkway overpass and merge with town-bound traffic on H-2.

It's expected this phase will be completed early in the year 2000.

Mililani Mauka residents driving on the parkway have had to make left turns to get to the existing on-ramp, where they merged with Mililani town commuters. The configuration often led to bottlenecks.

The new interchange will eliminate left turns, which now are being facilitated by temporary traffic lights.

The looping on-ramp will allow vehicles from Mililani Mauka to enter H-2 south-bound lanes without crossing oncoming traffic.

Interchange construction made necessary the temporary closing of nearby sidewalks along the north side of Meheula Parkway earlier this year.

While residents say they are looking forward to the project's completion, there also is some frustration.

"I hope they hurry up and finish up," said Roy Doi, chairman, Mililani Mauka Neighborhood Board. "Right now, we've got so many stoplights in such a short area, and these are all temporary, I understand."

Doi said that during the day while work goes on, one of two lanes might be shut down, slowing traffic. But he thinks the improvements eventually will be a boon to traffic flow.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "We've been living with a lot of stoplights, making left turns across two-lane roads. It will be nice when we can stop doing that."

Thomas O'Connor, a Mililani resident, is taking the situation in stride.

"I've got no problems with it," he said. "I'm anxious for it to get done, but it really hasn't inconvenienced me at all."

O'Connor said he's been puzzled by the construction since it began, and "in that regard I'm anxious to see if it's going to improve the interchange and speed-up the traffic flow."

Martin Okabe, Transportation Department engineering program manager, said the new ramp will allow right turns, and no left turns.

"It will be a free-flow right turn onto the loop ramp going Honolulu-bound," thus reducing congestion, he said. "That will relieve traffic because there is no left turn movement to get onto the H-2 going Honolulu-bound."

Castle & Cooke, the developer in the area, developed and constructed the interchange as part of a construction permit, said Transportation Department spokeswoman Marilyn Kali.

She said the federal government initially is paying 80 percent of the cost and the developer the rest.

"However, the developer will repay the 80 percent of the federal funds that were put up -- repay those to the state," she said. "It's called innovative financing."

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Roadwork this week

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach

Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.

Maili

Waapuhi Street.

NORTH OAHU

Haleiwa

Haleiwa Bypass Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Helemano-Waialua Junction to Haleiwa Beach Park.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia

Kunia and Fort Weaver roads near the Kunia Interchange; Kupuna Loop to Farrington Highway; the H-1 Freeway Ramps 5 and 5B and other Kunia Interchange on ramps; and H-1, vicinity of Kunia Interchange.

Wahiawa

Kilani Avenue from Holoku Place to Ilima Street; Whitmore Avenue from Kamehameha Highway to Military Gate; and Mala and Ilima streets.

Mililani

Mililani Interchange.

Waipahu

H-1 in the vicinity of Waipahu Street to Waiawa Road; Kipou Street from Hulahe to Honowai streets; Honowai Street from Kipou to Hoaeae streets; Hoaeae Street from Honowai Street to near the Hoaeae Pumping Station.

Aiea

Heleconia Place; Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street.

Waimalu

H-1, Waimalu Viaduct to Halawa Interchange; and Moanalua Road from Kaahumanu Street to Moanalua Loop.

Waipio

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

HONOLULU

Moanalua

Ala Kapuna to Ala Napunani; and Moanalua Freeway South Frontage and North Frontage roads, Ala Kapuna and Ala Napunani.

Kalihi

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

Liliha

Liliha Street from North King Street to Vineyard Boulevard.

Nuuanu

Kimo Drive Bridge; Kaohinani Drive from Kimo to Pelekane drives; Kahawalu Drive between Kaohinani and Niolopua drives; and Old Pali Road.

Kakaako

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.

Makiki

Round Top and Tantalus drives.

Moiliili

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

Palolo

Keanu Street between 8th Avenue and Sierra Drive; and 9th and 10th avenues between Keanu Street and Waialae Avenue.

Punahou

Spreckels Street.

Waialae

Aha Nui Place.

Wilhelmina 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.

Hauula

Keala, Kawaipapa and Puuowaa roads; and Waikulama Street.

Kailua

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; Ilikaa Place; Kalaheo Avenue; Alahaki and Akupa streets; Akupa and Nanaloko places; and Kainui Drive.

Waimanalo

Flamingo and Ahiki streets; Kaaiai Street from Huli to Nakini streets; and Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets.

Kaneohe

Keaahala Road from Anoi Road to Keaahala Place; Likelike Highway from Valley View Drive to Kam IV Road; and Kula Kulea Street to Valley View Drive.

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.

ALOHA FESTIVALS

In addition to the following street closures, parking prohibitions will be posted in affected areas. For information, call 589-1771.

Friday

The following streets will be closed from 6 p.m. to midnight for the Downtown Hoolaulea:

Bishop Street between Beretania Street and Nimitz Highway. However, the intersections at Nimitz Highway, and King and Beretania streets will remain open.
Merchant Street between Bethel and Alakea streets. The Bethel Street intersection will remain open.
Hotel Street between Alakea and Bethel streets.
Queen Street between Alakea Street and Fort Street Mall.

Saturday

Floral parade, 9 a.m. beginning at the Ewa entrance of Ala Moana Park. The parade will continue to Kalakaua Avenue and end at Kapiolani Park. All cross streets will be closed progressively until each area has been cleared.

Sept. 15

Kanikapila Hoolaulea, 6-10 p.m. Bethel Street will be closed between Hotel and Pauahi streets.

Sept. 17

Waikiki Hoolaulea, 5:30 p.m.-midnight. Kalakaua Avenue will be closed between Lewers Street and Kapahulu Avenue.