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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
DOT attempts
timely notice
on roadworkQuestion: On Wednesday, June 25, around 9 p.m., I ran into a traffic jam, Koko Head-bound, on the H-1 between the Vineyard Boulevard onramp and the Punahou offramp. At the time, the right-most lane of the freeway was closed for construction. The next day, I checked the Department of Transportation Web site and learned, after the fact, of the lane closure. However, I don't recall hearing about that particular closure before then, nor did I see any portable electronic signs, which usually get put up near the exits warning motorists of upcoming freeway closures. Can you look into this?
Answer: The H-1 Piikoi viaduct was closed from 9 p.m. June 25 to 1 a.m. June 26 to allow state and private engineers to inspect freeway bridge joints. The same kind of inspection resulted in a lane closure earlier on June 25 along the H-1 near University Avenue, according to DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa.
News releases about lane closures are usually sent two days in advance, he said, figuring that that gives the daily newspapers "time to publish them, hopefully, the day before the lane closures."
The belief is that "unless it is a major lane closure, sending the press releases out too early usually leads to everyone forgetting about them when they occur," he said.
In the case you cite, however, Ishikawa said DOT officials didn't decide on the lane closures until the day before, when representatives of the manufacturer of the bridge joints were in town.
The DOT sent out a news release the day before the closure, and another the morning of June 25, in hopes of getting it into the afternoon editions of the Star-Bulletin and the Advertiser, Ishikawa said.
He said both newspapers "chose not to run the information, while some radio and TV (stations) notified the public throughout the day." He also said information about the lane closure was placed on the DOT Web site the evening before.
"Sometimes we are at the mercy of the media regarding announcements about lane closures, based on available newspaper space and radio/TV airtime," Ishikawa said.
For the Star-Bulletin's part, City Editor Ed Lynch said: "We try to do short items on major roadwork whenever possible. The earlier we get the notice, the better chance it has of getting into the paper."
As for the portable signs, Ishikawa said highway officials told him signs were placed along the H-1 during the daytime to warn motorists. He did acknowledge that "we should have done a better job in getting the word out on our portable electronic signs."
He said the problem with electronic signs is a lack of space, "so we still need the media's help on getting the word out," he said.
Auwe
To people who steal mangoes. Just because they fall to the ground doesn't give you the right to trespass and steal. You think you can put those mangoes to better use? But trespassing and stealing cannot be justified by that explanation yesterday, today or tomorrow. Stealing is stealing, even though it's only a mango. -- No Name
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