Despite the continuous bickering between Honolulu Mayoral candidates over rail, the transit project is moving forward. Today, we got an up-close look at the first rail column.
The column is the first of hundreds that are expected to be built to support the guideway. City officials are happy to see this project finally come to life.
It took five truckloads of concrete to build this 23-foot rail column and a week of waiting for the concrete to cure.
Yesterday, the cast for the column was removed and passed inspection.
"I think this is absolutely wonderful. It has started and it’s not going to stop," said Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle.
This afternoon near Farrington Highway in East Kapolei, city officials examined the first of 300 columns for the rail system’s first phase, stretching from East Kapolei to Pearl City.
"This thing, after 40 years, and all the starts and stops, looks like beauty personified," Carlisle said.
But the people in Kapolei we talked to, disagreed.
"I think it’ll be an eyesore. I prefer to look out and see the beautiful oceanline and coastlines," said Keanuenue Manuel, Nanakuli resident.
"Oahu was beautiful at one time and now we’re going to have that rail up there?" asked Olga Torres, Ewa resident.
Carlisle believes there will always be skeptics.
"There’s people who look at the Mona Lisa and they think it’s an eyesore," Carlisle said.
The rail contractor will continue placing these columns up in West Oahu, before building the guideway, which will be another 10 feet in height.
"You can’t see it, but at the top of this thing is what we call a bearing pad and a seat so the guideway will rest on top of it," said Lance Wilhelm with Kiewit.
The contractor will build the guideway’s concrete pieces on top of the columns, later this year. Meanwhile, the Mayor remains focused on moving rail forward, and sees this project as an important step in building transit-oriented developments. But he is concerned about one big hurdle.
"The only thing we’ve got to worry about right now is essentially what the decision is from the federal courts," Carlisle said.
The lawsuits challenging rail’s environmental review and bidding process, plus the federal funding grant agreement are not expected until the fall.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
