STAR-BULLETIN / 2006 Queen Street through Kakaako often puddles and floods during rain.

Costs hold up Queen Street upgrade

Answer: The project was scheduled to begin last month but has been delayed indefinitely because the construction cost exceeds the budget approved for it in 2004.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority's board is scheduled to decide what to about the $17 million project at its next meeting on Wednesday, said Daniel Dinell, the state agency's executive director.

The agency's staff held an open house Wednesday to solicit input about the project from the public. At next week's meeting the staff will recommend to the board canceling the existing contract and report whether the public wants the state to proceed with the project or some alternative.

If the HCDA board decides to proceed with the project under one contract or in phases, it will have to seek additional funding, Dinell said.

The affected portion of Queen Street is pocked with potholes, floods frequently because there is no drainage and has no sidewalks from Cummins Street to Ward Avenue. Customers of area businesses park their cars randomly in unmarked spaces, either perpendicular or parallel to the street, creating obstacles for pedestrians and drivers.

The project would realign the street and add new water, sewer and drainage systems, sidewalks, curb gutters, road paving, metered curbside parking, underground electrical and communications systems, street landscaping, lighting and traffic signals at the intersection of Kamakee and Queen streets.