Queen’s plans
on-ramp to ease
Punchbowl snarlThe hospital pledges
$2.5 million to speed
traffic flow in the area
The Queen's Medical Center plans to build a new on-ramp to the eastbound H-1 freeway to help alleviate traffic around Punchbowl Street.
Queen's has set aside $2.5 million to build a freeway on-ramp via Lusitana Street as well as a connection to Lusitana from the current Kinau Street off-ramp, said James Kumagai, vice president of facilities planning and management.
The on-ramp and exit construction was required by the city as a traffic mitigation measure in exchange for permission for Queen's to build its parking structure and emergency room entrance, Kumagai said. He said the project is going into the design phase and could be completed in two years.
The hospital will pay up to $2.5 million of the construction cost, Kumagai said. If the cost turns out to be more, he said, Queen's will have to discuss other financing arrangements with the city and the state.
The on-ramp would connect to the H-1 freeway through the current Vineyard Boulevard on-ramp. It would provide an alternative route to the freeway besides going up Punchbowl and making a right onto Vineyard or down Kinau Street to the Ward Avenue on-ramp.
Also, the ability to turn right onto Lusitana Street off Kinau would give motorists the option of getting to the Queen's Medical Center and the Physician's Office Buildings by exiting on Kinau.
Kumagai said owners of apartments and homes on Lusitana Street were notified of the project, and the Downtown Neighborhood Board raised no objections when the plans were explained at a meeting several months ago.
Residents along Lusitana Street said they can see the benefits of the project but are still concerned about the impact on their neighborhood.
"There'll be a lot more traffic," said Mark Andrews. But he said there is already a lot of traffic on Kinau and Ward, and the project "might clear it up."
Grace Monty, who lives on a short segment of Alapai Street between Lusitana and the freeway, said the increased traffic will make it more difficult for her to make a left turn onto Kinau from her house.
But "majority rules," she said, acknowledging that more people may benefit from the project.
People crossing Lusitana Street to get to the Alapai Street pedestrian bridge over the H-1 freeway also will be affected.
"At times now this is a bad street and it's too hard to cross," said Tay Smith. "I would not be in favor of anything that would bring traffic to this area."
Kumagai said, "It's not all rosy. Definitely nothing is ever perfect." But he said a Queen's study showed that there would be an overall benefit to traffic in the area.
"I think conceptually we support what they are doing. It gives the motoring public more options," said Ron Tsuzuki, program manager for the state Department of Transportation.
Tsuzuki said the department is waiting to see the exact plans, and there will be another chance for the public to comment when those plans are presented for Department of Transportation approval.
