Waianae Coast community leaders say they welcome temporary median barriers slated to be installed on a dangerous curve near Maili as a way to prevent major traffic accidents. Interim barriers on
dangerous Maili curve hailedSome area officials are pleased but
they want a permanent solutionBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comBut Sen. Colleen Hanabusa said: "We want a permanent solution. ... We don't believe the barriers in itself is going to solve that."
Gov. Linda Lingle released $1 million yesterday to install median barriers and other safety improvement projects on Farrington Highway. The federal government will provide an additional $7 million.
According to transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa, $2 million will be used to install temporary concrete barriers on a 1-mile stretch from Hakimo Road to Kaukama Road. The barriers will limit left turns to homes and beaches along that stretch.
Community leaders said the state administration is off to a good start but that more needs to be done.
Denton Kissell, co-chairman of the Waianae Neighborhood Board, said, "It's a good thing to put a barrier there because it will cut down the accidents along the bend."
But Kissell added, "We're not looking for a fix-me-up Band-Aid solution that they're doing here."
Cynthia Rezentes, former chairwoman of the Waianae Neighborhood Board, said she was glad to hear that the governor released funds to curb motorists from crossing the center line in Maili.
"We look forward to that coming in, but we also look forward to a more permanent solution along that curve," Rezentes said.
Ishikawa said a plan is currently being considered by transportation officials to address long-term safety improvements from Nanakuli to Maili.
Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua) said she has been working with transportation officials over the years to find a solution to alleviate the number of traffic fatalities that occur on the highway.
"Farrington Highway is really the killer highway," she said. "It's been an ongoing problem."
Most of the accidents that have occurred at the bend and in other areas along Farrington Highway have been caused by a motorist crossing the center line. Drivers normally travel between 45 and 50 mph on the curve instead of the posted 35 mph speed limit, Rezentes said.
The remaining funds will go toward additional highway lighting from Ala Hema Street to Makaha Valley Road, sidewalk improvements and road and crosswalk re-striping.
Construction on the various projects is expected to start in October and be completed in January 2005.
State Department of Transportation
