Traffic jams likely
as crews work to
expand Punchbowl

The work is part of a larger
plan to make access to the
freeway easier from downtown

By Rosemarie Bernardo
Star-Bulletin

City workers will begin construction Monday on a seven-month road-widening project on Punchbowl Street from Vineyard Boulevard to just before the H-1 Ewa-bound onramp.

The Diamond Head side of Punchbowl heading toward the onramp will be extended to two lanes, which will then merge after Lusitana Street.

Cheryl Soon, director of the city Department of Transportation Services, said the plan is to improve the flow of traffic toward the freeway.

The city's previous long-range plan for Punchbowl is to have two mauka-bound lanes from Nimitz Highway to the freeway.

Motorists coming from Merchant Street, the Prince Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building, Iolani Palace and many of the state offices in the downtown area will benefit from an additional lane, Soon said.

"During the late 1970s, most of the lanes in the downtown areas were converted to one-way streets," she said. "It was believed to be more efficient."

Now with gridlock during prime hours, plans to widen the lanes will allow motorists to reach their destination more quickly.

In the meantime, Honolulu motorists already weary from a large number of road projects will have to put up with delays though November.

Rae Loui, director of the Department of Design & Construction, said widening the lanes fronting the Queen's Medical Center from Miller to Beretania streets is expected to be completed in July.

Next month, workers are expected to begin widening the roads from King to Beretania streets. Traffic lights, gutters and striping will also be added.

With an additional lane, property adjustments will be done on Punchbowl between Vineyard and Lusitana as construction is set to begin. The city has provided a vacant lot near Jiffy Lube for nearby residents to park their vehicles.

Jiffy Lube's assistant manager, Gilbert Magbual, anticipates business to slow down once the work begins.

Unfazed by the upcoming construction, Magbual said, "If it slows down, there are three more shops that we can send them to."