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Kailua board
snubs plan to widen
Kalanianaole

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By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

The Kailua Neighborhood Board turned thumbs down on several Windward road projects under consideration by the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The board voted last night to recommend rejection of proposals to widen the Kalanianaole Highway to three lanes from Olomana Golf Course to Waimanalo Beach Park, to six lanes from Castle Junction to the intersection with Kailua Road near Castle Medical Center and to six lanes from Kailua Road to Keolu Drive.

The planning organization had recommended the changes, on grounds they would add capacity and improve safety. The proposals are among more than 100 Oahu projects in the organization's Top 2025 update.

Board member Charles Prentiss objected, saying that widening Kalanianaole would require removal of mature trees and sacrifice greenery along the roadway.

The board also voted to reject proposed contraflow lanes on both the Pali and Likelike highways from Kamehameha Highway on the Windward side to School Street in Honolulu. The planning organization said this would add capacity.

Kailua Neighborhood Board also rejected a Pali Highway overpass for traffic turning left at Castle Junction toward Kaneohe.

Board Chairwoman Faith Evans said this idea has been around for 25 years and she hopes it can be laid to rest.

Every five years the planning organization, a city-state group that sets priorities for transportation projects, updates its 25-year list by adding, deleting or redefining projects.

The organization is seeking public input to help determine how to improve transportation on Oahu.