Commuters stuck in the daily traffic jam between Honolulu and Waikele will have some relief, but not until 2012, when construction on afternoon contraflow lanes on the H-1 freeway are scheduled to be completed.

The lanes would replace the eastbound Zipper Lane and add an extra lane for traffic flow in either direction, said Tammy Mori, spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation.

“;Based on the success of the Zipper Lane during the morning rush hour, we wanted to offer that same kind of relief to drivers for their afternoon commute,”; said DOT Director Brennon Morioka.

The two new lanes are expected to increase Ewa-bound capacity by about 17 percent during the afternoon, and may save 15 minutes in driving time. Replacing the Zipper Lane and its Zip Mobile will save about $1 million per year in operating costs, Morioka said.

Both lanes will accommodate traffic toward Honolulu in the morning, and will be reversed in the afternoon. During non-rush hours, the lanes will revert back to their original directions, Mori said.

Vehicles in the Zipper Lane are required to carry a minimum of three occupants in the morning, but only two occupants will be necessary in the afternoon, she said.

Construction on the first phase of the $75 million project will begin in early summer, involving a 6.1-mile section of highway from the Radford Drive overpass to the Waiawa Interchange (H-1/H-2 merge). A second phase includes a 2.1-mile stretch from Waiawa to Waikele. Both phases should be finished by mid-2012, Mori said.