Wheels beginning
to turn on improving
the Saddle Road

The U.S. highway agency
hopes construction and
rerouting begin in 2001

By Rod Thompson
Big Island Correspondent

HILO -- Boris and Rogene Huber-Bejerana's friends can only shake their heads in amazement at the couple's daily drive over the narrow, twisting, pothole-strewn Saddle Road from Hilo to West Hawaii.

The Huber-Bejeranas do it because they live in Hilo but their jobs are at the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort 67 miles away.

"People think we're crazy doing it every day," Boris said of the 1 1/4-hour drive.

Now the Federal Highway Administration is offering some relief.

The agency last week issued a final decision on a new route for the Saddle Road.

The agency has $1.5 million in design money for the first leg of improvements, bypassing the military Pohakuloa Training Area, said project manager David Gedeon.

The agency hopes to get the $46.3 million for the 12.7-mile stretch next year and to begin construction in mid-2001, he said.

The Army wants the bypass in order to get civilian traffic out of the segment that crosses the base, said Lt. Col. Dennis Owen.

"They don't like to mix their tanks with our cars," said Marnie Herkes, who sat on a Saddle Road advisory group.

Boris Huber-Bejerana said he doesn't mind driving the road now, although at first, driving it made his wife carsick.

He still has to change the car's shock absorbers regularly and crawl underneath to tighten bolts.

Beginning with Mayor Dante Carpenter in the 1980s, some improvements were made on the road by Hawaii County on the Hilo side.

"The Kona side still needs a lot of work," Huber-Bejerana said.

That includes the Pohakuloa leg and a connecting segment that climbs over a steep ridge toward Waimea.

The Waimea section will be replaced by a completely new 9.6-mile alignment which points toward Kailua-Kona.

But military money can't be spent on that portion, and there's no telling when the Federal Highway Administration will get the $39.6 million it needs, Gedeon said.

In total, the entire 47-mile route, plus environmental measures, will cost $165.2 million.

The approved routes are the same as those recommended by a federal, state and county team in 1998.

Truckers make little use of Saddle Road. "It's a roller coaster," said Gail Cantor of Cantor Brothers Hauling Services.

The company had a truck once that went out of control on a curve and ended up "totaled" in a pasture, she said.

But the normal Hilo-to-Kona truck route, north around the island through Waimea, is becoming congested, Cantor said. Driving the road recently, she passed 70 to 80 trucks at 5 a.m., she said.

"If they would straighten (Saddle Road), it would really save us a lot of time," she said.

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Roadwork

Planned this week throughout Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach

Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.

Waianae

Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.

Maili

Waapuhi Street.

CENTRAL OAHU

Kunia

Vicinity of Kunia Interchange to Waikele Stream Bridge and from 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

Lanikuhana Avenue.

Waipio

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

Waipahu

Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road.

Aiea

Moanalua Road from Punanani Channel to Pali Momi Street; Kaonohi Street between Alania and Kahapili streets; Kahapili Street between Kaonohi and Kaonohi streets; Maohu and Heleconia places; 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.

Salt Lake

Ala Ilima and Likini streets.

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; and Huli Street.

Nuuanu

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

Chinatown

King, River and Bethel streets.

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

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; and Malia and Makaikoa streets.

Waikiki

Ala Wai Boulevard between Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue; McCully Street between Ala Wai and Kapiolani boulevards; 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, Hoopala 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; Alahaki and Akupa streets; and Ilikaa, 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; and from Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach.

Events

Hawaii Senior Olympics

10K race, 7 a.m. tomorrow from/to Keehi Lagoon Park, along Aolele and Paiea streets and Nimitz Frontage Road.

MADD Dash

Walk/race, 4 p.m. tomorrow from the Civic Center grounds; along King, Victoria, Beretania and King streets; and ending at Sky Gate.