The restrictions take place the morning of Sunday, November 13th as World leaders head to a meeting at Ko Olina. It’s outlined for just an hour commute, but many say anticipate planning around it for much longer.
According to the security plan announced by the U.S. secret service and Honolulu police, access will be restricted between Waikiki all the way to Ko Olina on the H-1 freeway westbound and Farrington highway. The official times on Sunday November 13th are from 8:30 a.m. through 9:30 a.m. those who travel the roads often are bracing.
It’s anybody’s guess as to how this will affect us, the good part of it is it’s going to be on a sunday," says Howard Higa, The Cab President.
But weekends are often buzzing on the H-1 nonetheless, and drivers need to plan ahead.
They think of carmageddon, they think of total gridlock, how am I going to get around, how am I going to do the basic daily things that we need to do? Go to the store, run errands, things like that, those are the real logistical nitty gritties that have to be planned out," says Rep. Angus McKelvey, (D) Economic Revitalization Committee.
The official plan is not specific about what happens near the H-1 as the motorcades of 21 world leaders including President Obama drive by.
I’m sure there’s a lot of secrecy for good reason, and I think it’s just something we have to cooperate with. we don’t have all the information we need, we have the information that they think we need, and we’re just going to have to go with that," says Higa.
Some employers and organizations in their own preparation guidelines have said they’ve learned every connecting road and overpass of the h1 will also be shut down.
If you need to cross the H-1 by one of the pedestrian overpasses it’s possible you’ll also have to wait awhile to get from here to there by foot.
While the morning hour window has been announced, a return-time window has not been mentioned.
"Communication is key, if the public knows this is going to be closed for how long, they can make alternate plans and they can get about their day, but if it’s not well communicated and people find out by stumbling upon it, that’s when frustrations and the ire of the community starts to rise," says Rep. McKelvey.
Starting November 7th the city’s traffic cameras will be off limits to the public for security purposes.
We will continue to spread the word about accidents and road closures on air and online.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
