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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
School traffic
will hit Castle
bottleneckQuestion: Yikes! Can it be THAT time -- back to school -- already? I am a Windward commuter and wondering about the status of the Castle Junction land/rockslide project. Presently, the right lane, town-bound, is closed. It is only at the intersection that Kaneohe- and H-3-bound cars are able to turn onto Kamehameha Highway. At peak commuter times, a.m. and p.m., traffic backs up to the Quarry Road and sometimes Maunawili Road. An absolute nightmare is sure to result, when all public, private and university students return to school in late August, if something is not done soon. Could you please find out what's happening at the DOT regarding this situation?
Answer: It looks like the right-turn "storage lane" will remain blocked with concrete barriers indefinitely because of continuing falling debris.
State Department of Transportation officials are "working on the design right now," DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said Friday about plans to prevent future landslides.
They are continuing to meet with the owner of the cliffside where the landslides occurred in May and June about the design, "and that's all we're going to say for now," he said.
A news conference will be held sometime this month to update motorists about the plans.
To clarify, Ishikawa said that the last landslide at Castle Junction was on June 2, and the right-turn lane from Kalanianaole Highway onto Kamehameha Highway heading toward Kaneohe was reopened to motorists on June 8.
But you do have to drive up to the intersection and turn a hard right.
What remains closed is the "storage lane" closest to the cliffs, which can "store" several cars preparing to turn right from Kalanianaole onto Kamehameha, Ishikawa said.
Q: I am deeply saddened over the recent passing of officer Ryan Goto and 10-year-old Alacia Williams in the car accident by Honokai Hale. I know the Honolulu Police Department gives awards to officers, civilian employees and citizens who exhibit attributes or performance beyond the normal course of duty, such as exceptional bravery. Aside from the Police Week memorial services, does HPD give any type of recognition or award to the families of officers who die in the line of duty?
A: The Honolulu Police Department gives the family of an officer who dies in the line of duty a photograph of the officer, the officer's encased badge and an American flag, said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu.
The names of fallen officers are inscribed on a large plaque at the entrance to police headquarters on Beretania Street. There is also a separate plaque noting the deaths of solo bike officers, like Goto, outside HPD's Traffic Division, Yu said.
The officers also are recognized during the annual Police Week services, as you noted.
Meanwhile, Yu said that many people have been asking if they could offer donations in support of Goto's 6-year-old son, Bowen. Checks made out to Bowen Goto may be sent in care of the Honolulu Police Federal Credit Union, 1537 Young St., 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96826.
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