The State Transportation Department unveiled new plans Wednesday night to transform the section of roadway, by digging out 10-inches deep of asphalt, and replacing it. A fix that that hasn’t been done since the 1990′s.
"It’s more than resurfacing it’s rehabilitation so that will extend the life of the freeway anywhere from 10-15 years," says Caroline Sluyter, DOT spokesperson.
The DOT says on top of that they are proposing to re-stripe the interstate adding a fourth lane in both directions – narrowing the lanes from 12-feet to 10-feet.
"You have to be real cautious, smaller lane, gotta watch for the big trucks on the side of you, it’s going to slow down traffic but once people get used to it, it will go smoothly," says driver D Macaliv-Og.
It would be an extension to the re-stripping work recently completed between Punahou and Pali highway aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the area.
"It doesn’t bother me I’ve heard stories of ‘oh my car is too big’, but I mean it is smaller, you can tell the cars are closer but it’s fine with me," says driver Gannon Gragas.
"Anything to ease traffic is great, yeah," says Macaliv-Og
The speed limit would be lowered in the area to accommodate the narrow lanes and work is expected to result in lane closures.
"We would like to do mostly night work, there will probably be some day work because of how the traffic is we would really like to do it mostly at night," says Sluyter.
The proposed project would cost about $30 million and include sign, speed limit and crash barrier modifications as well as upgrades to freeway lights from the drop lens to a flat lens.
The state is preparing a draft environmental assessment and will call for public comment in January or February. If the project moves forward work would begin next summer and take a year to complete.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
