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STREETWISE

Cyclists hail
proposed bikeway linking
Waipahu, Nanakuli

By Pat Gee
Star-Bulletin

Bicyclists say they are looking forward to the Leeward Bikeway connecting Waipahu to Nanakuli because riding on Farrington Highway is dangerous.

Ronald Fernandez of Pacific Palisades, who rides the two-mile West Loch Bike Path in Waipahu regularly, said: "It's about time! It's too dangerous to ride on Farrington Highway."

Keith Sienkiewicz of Pearl City, a 20-year employee of the recently closed Waipahu Bicycle and Sporting Goods, agreed.

"It should've been done a long time ago. Fifteen years ago, when they raised bike license fees, they said it would be used to build it."

The state Department of Transportation is awaiting about $5 million in federal funds to buy additional land before construction on the 14-mile bikeway can begin late this year or early next year, said Ken Tatsuguchi, project manager.

The federal government will pay for 80 percent of the $6 million project, he said.

June 7 is the deadline for public comment on an environmental assessment prepared for the state Highways Division.

Eve DeCoursey, executive director of the 1,000-member Hawaii Bike League, said the proposed bike path is "a wonderful idea" because it would connect several communities, although she has yet to study the environmental assessment.

She said she is still "very pleased" about it because the Kamehameha and Farrington Highways "don't have bike-friendly features."

Mel Nakahata, manager of the Bike Shop in Waimalu, said: "We have a lot of anxious cyclists who would be interested in using it. Farrington Highway is too dangerous."

Recreational bikers would also appreciate the bikeway because they are reluctant to travel through the back cane fields without a pathway, he said.

The 10-foot-wide bikeway will cross a number of streams and cut across the historic Oahu Railroad and Land Co. tracks several times, Tatsuguchi said.

The alignment will follow railroad tracks from Waipio Point Access Road to Lualualei Naval Road, and link up with the existing two-mile West Loch Bike Path in between.

About six miles of the bikeway will follow the same path of the railroad still in use, Tatsuguchi said.

Additional property abutting the railway must be acquired, with the idea that the rest of the railroad will be used sometime in the future.

Because extra clearance is needed for safety reasons, the Transportation Department is in the process of acquiring adjoining property for the bike path's 40-foot right of way, though the state already owns most of the property, Tatsuguchi said.

The environmental study did not anticipate any adverse long-term impacts on the environment. No homes will be displaced, and about 100 abandoned cars that encroached on the right of way have already been removed from behind homes in Waipahu, Tatsuguchi said.

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Streetwise

Roadwork planned this week throughout Oahu:

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach
Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street; Farrington Highway from Piliokoe Bridge to Kahe power plant in the vicinity of Tracks Beach Park; and Fort Weaver Road at Renton Road and near Kahua Ranch Nursery.

Makakilo
H-1 from Palehua separation to Waikele bridge.

Maili
Mynah Street and Place; Monilial Place; and Heleuma, Okokomo and Okohola streets.

Waianae
Hakalina Road from Pahihi to Puhawai roads.

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; H-1 freeway in the vicinity of Kunia interchange; and Kunia Road from Anonui Street to South Kupuna Loop.

Haleiwa
Haiku Valley Bridge tunnel.

Wahiawa
Intersection of Wilikina Drive and Kamananui Road; and Ilima Street.

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

Waipahu
Lumiaina Street from the Board of Water Supply Waipahu Wells II facility on Kukula Street to its facility on Lumiaina Street; Kahuanui Street between Kahuanani and Kahuahale streets; Kahuanani Street between Kahuanui and Kahu streets; Kahuanui Street from Paiwa to Kahuanani streets; Waipahu Depot Road from Haakoa Place to the Waipahu incinerator; Pupuole Place; and Awaia, Awanei, Awanui, Paiwa and Pupuole streets.

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 Place; and Akaaka, Ilee, Kulawai, Neki, Ulune and Kaamilo streets.

Pearl City
Kamehameha Highway from Acacia Road to Honomanu Street; Komo Mai Drive from Waimano Home Road to Hookupa Street; and Spine Road.

HONOLULU

Foster Village
Halupa Street from Haloa Drive to Punihi Street.

Kalihi
Dillingham Boulevard between Waiakamilo Road and North King Street; Skyline Drive; Kapalama, School, Ashford, Lima, Kamalii and Hillcrest streets; and Gulick Avenue.

Liliha
Huli Street.

Nuuanu
Kahawalu Drive; and Ragsdale and Homelani places.

Kakaako
Keawe Street on Ala Moana, South and Queen streets, and Nimitz Highway and River Street to end at Hotel Street; and Rycroft Street from Birch to Piikoi streets.

Kapiolani
Kapiolani interchange; Kapiolani Boulevard between Old Waialae Road and King Street; Harding and First avenues to Kapiolani Boulevard; and Kapiolani and King Street offramps.

Moiliili
Date Street between Isenberg Street and University Avenue.

Punahou/University
Keeaumoku Street to Bingham Street offramp; H-1 from vicinity of Punchbowl offramp to Kapiolani interchange; Bingham Street from Punahou to Isenberg streets; and Lunalilo Street from Liholiho to Kaihee and Ernest to Pensacola streets.

Waialae
Aha Nui Place.

Waikiki
Ala Wai Boulevard between Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue; and Kalakaua Avenue from Kaiulani to Kapahulu avenues.

Wilhelmina Rise
Maunahilu, Pakolu and Pili places; and Paula Drive between Maunahilu Place and Iwi Way.

WINDWARD OAHU

Kaneohe
Kahekili, Kamehameha and Likelike highways from Waihee Road to Kaneohe Bay Drive; Lihika and Laenani drives and the section of Kamehameha Highway connecting the two streets; Mapele Place and Road; and Ahilani and Pulama roads.

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
Halekou to Kailua interchanges; Kaneohe Marine Corps Base to Kailua interchange; Kalaheo Avenue between Wilikoki and Kaiholu places; Aumoe Street; Kalanianaole Highway to Kawainui Bridge; Aikahi Loop; Kawainui Street; and Mokapu Saddle Road at Kaneohe Bay Drive.

Waimanalo
Kumuhau Street from Waikupanaha to Mahailua streets; Waipahu Street from Amokii Street to Waikele Road; and Humuniki Street.

EAST OAHU

Niu Valley
Paiko Drive; and Niuiki Circle.

Kuliouou
Kuliouou Road; Keoki, Pahukula and Wakine places; and Kaimoku Place and Way.

Makapuu
Kalanianaole Highway from Makapuu Lookout to Kealahou Street.