Question: Can you tell me (and all the other frustrated drivers) just what is going on at the Tripler offramp (eastbound) several times per week that causes the bumper-to-bumper traffic starting at the top of Red Hill at Ala Kapuna? Numerous ID and security checks at Tripler Army Medical Center? Someone told me that a popular radio station mentioned that vendors at Tripler have to get renewed weekly, and that holds up traffic. It also does not help that people coming onto the freeway from Red Hill are trying to cross over the traffic going on the Tripler offramp and people in the right-hand lane hold up traffic going to Puuloa Road because they are stopped trying to cut into the left lanes (creating dangerous situations where cars drive on the shoulder).

Answer: Army officials say nothing has changed regarding security and ID checks—vendors aren't required to get new passes weekly.

Instead, they believe “;the real issue as far as traffic backups and delays is the sheer volume of traffic at peak times and the timing of lights,”; said Loran Doane, spokesman for U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii.

However, delays could be exacerbated by the current road surfacing project on Jarrett White, Patterson, and Krukowski roads at Tripler, which began Dec. 8. Because of rain delays, the work, initially targeted for completion Jan. 23, is now expected to be completed Feb. 4.

Weather permitting, work at the Tripler gate is expected to finish within the next few days. There should then be “;noticeable improvement in traffic flow,”; Doane said.

The state Department of Transportation does believe at least part of the problem might be relieved with a change in the traffic signal at Ala Mahamoe and Jarrett White Road.

Traffic at that intersection merges from two lanes to a single lane, extending down Jarrett White Road and causing the overflow onto the H-1, according to the Transportation Department.

“;The signal at the Ala Mahamoe intersection does not look like the instigator, but because of the backup, there are only two to three cars per cycle that are able to proceed across the intersection to gate control”; at Tripler, said transportation spokeswoman Tammy Mori.

Transportation officials “;are currently in communications”; with city transportation and Army officials, she said, “;so we can all further address this issue that looks to be the culprit of traffic spillover onto the H-1 freeway.”;

Meanwhile, Doane explained that vendors who do regular business with Tripler are issued access passes good for one year.

People just visiting Tripler or any other military installation are issued visitor's passes after presenting a driver's license, motor vehicle registration and proof of insurance. This can be done at the visitors center of the installation they are visiting, Doane said.

“;There is ample parking space to pull aside in order to register vehicles without impeding the flow of traffic,”; he said.

But visitors can help speed the process by having their documents in order and ready to present at the gate.

“;Drivers can further improve the rate at which vehicles proceed through the Tripler security check point by having the identification of each individual in the vehicle out and ready for inspection,”; Doane said.