Synchronized lights
should help Ewa
thoroughfareA drive on Fort Weaver Road
By Leila Fujimori
to the H-1 freeway used to take
five minutes; now it takes 15
Star-BulletinHelicopter traffic reports didn't use to include Fort Weaver Road in Ewa. Now they do. Traffic jams are a daily problem there.
To alleviate the problem, the state will synchronize traffic lights along the road to try to shave 10 minutes off commuters' drive time.
What used to take five minutes -- a drive on Fort Weaver Road from Papipi Road in Ewa Beach to the H-1 freeway -- now takes 15.
With the lights in sync, drivers won't have to stop at every light, and their drive times should go back down.
"Once you get through a green light, you should be able to go through without having to stop a second time," said Tim Tucker, chairman of the Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board.
Community members were told synchronization will require running a wire between all the lights to link them.
It also will take a 1 1/2 years and $1 million, Paul Hamamoto of the state Transportation Department said at a recent Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board meeting.
Tucker, a civil engineer who works for a general contractor, felt the job would take two weeks "if it was private industry." Underground wiring might take longer, he said, but he would like to see a temporary overhead line to alleviate the problem soon.
"The bottom line is, the Ewa Beach area is growing every year by probably as much as 400 to 500 new homes," said Willie Espero, general manager of the Ewa by Gentry Community Association. "What that is doing is bringing in another 1,000 cars on the road."
Ewa by Gentry is only half built, Espero said, and Haseko Home Inc.'s Ocean Pointe development is just getting started and will have more than 4,000 homes when completed.
Tucker cited poor planning as the problem. "Houses were built first, and now they're doing the work on the roads."
The synchronization of lights will improve Fort Weaver Road traffic during peak hours, but Espero said there still will be a lot of traffic due to cars from feeder roads, such as Geiger and Renton roads.
Espero, who is a neighborhood board member, sees the lights synchronization as just part of the solution.
Some believe traffic problems could be alleviated with an alternate access route. One such route, the North-South Road proposed years ago, has been stalled in the planning phase.
Obstacles include protecting an endangered native Hawaiian hibiscus, a colony of which is growing in the road's proposed path, said Kenneth Au, state advance planning engineer.
Roadwork planned this week throughout Oahu: Streetwise
LEEWARD OAHU
Ewa Beach
Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.
Waianae
Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.
Maili
Waapuhi Street.
NORTH SHORE
Haleiwa
Haleiwa Bypass Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Helemano-Waialua Junction to Haleiwa Beach Park.
CENTRAL OAHU
Kunia
Vicinity of Kunia Interchange, Kupuna Loop to Farrington Highway; Kunia and Fort Weaver roads; H-1 freeway ramps 5 and 5-B and all other ramps in Kunia interchange; and H-1 freeway in the vicinity of Kunia interchange, Makakilo-bound lanes.
Wahiawa
Kilani Avenue from Holoku Place to Ilima Street; and Mala and Ilima streets.
Mililani
Mililani interchange; and Lanikuhana Avenue.
Waipio
Farrington Highway, Leoole to Awanui streets; and Paiwa to Leoku streets.
Waipahu
Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road.
Aiea
Heleconia Place; Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street; Kaonohi Street between Alania and Kahapili streets; Kahapili Street between Kaonohi Street; Maohu Place; 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.
Kalihi
Makuahine and Kalihi streets; Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Kamanaiki Street from Violet to Laulani streets; and Kapalama, School, Moani, Laulani, Puolani, Noe, North School and Pahulu streets.
Liliha
Liliha Street from North King Street to Vineyard Boulevard; Huli Street; and Vineyard Boulevard at Nuuanu Avenue.
Nuuanu
Kimo Drive Bridge; Kaohinani Drive from Kimo to Pelekane drives; Kahawalu Drive between Kaohinani and Niolopua drives; Kahawalu Drive; Ragsdale and Homelani places; Pali Highway at Waokanaka Street; Dowsett Avenue; Waokanaka Street; 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.
Kapiolani
Harding Avenue between Kapahulu Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard; Kapiolani interchange; Kapahulu Avenue between Kaimuki and Waialae avenues; and H-1 eastbound offramp to King Street.
Makiki
Keeaumoku and Heulu streets; and Piikoi at Lewalani drives.
Moiliili
Kahoaloha Lane from Kuilei Lane to South King Street; and Kuulei Street from Kahoaloha Lane to University Avenue.
Punahou
Spreckels Street.
Palolo
Keanu Street between 8th Avenue and Sierra Drive; and 9th and 10th avenues between Keanu Street and Waialae Avenue.
Waialae
Aha Nui Place; Ainakoa Avenue; Malia and Makaikoa streets; H-1 freeway 11th Avenue offramp; H-1 from 13th to 9th avenues; H-1 freeway, Koko Head to 21st avenues; and H-1 on-ramps at 5th and 11th avenues and offramps at 6th, Koko Head and Waialae Avenues.
Diamond Head
Harding Avenue.
Waikiki
Ala Wai Boulevard between Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue; and Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues.
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.
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 to Ilimano Street; Iliaina Street from Ililani Street to Iliwahi Loop and from Ilihau Street to end; Kailua Road from Kalanianaole Highway to Kawainui Bridge; Alahaki and Akupa streets; and Akupa and Nanaloko places.
Waimanalo
Ahiki Street; Kaaiai Street from Huli to Nakini streets; and Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets.
Kaneohe
Keaahala Road from Anoi Road to Keaahala Place.
EAST OAHU
Kalani Valley
Kalaniiki Street and Kalanikai Place.
Hawaii Kai
Kalanianaole Highway from Nawiliwili Street to Sandy Beach Park entrance; from Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach; and Lunalilo Home Road between Kalanianaole Highway and Wailua Street.
