From Rep. Denny Coffman:
The University of Hawaii has received bids for the construction of Kamanu Street, a two-lane road from Ka’iminani Drive to University Drive.
Keauhou Kona Construction Corporation (KKCC) was the low bidder.
Since Palamanui Development was responsible for building Kamanu Street, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that compensates the University for these expenses is being finalized and approved. With the approval of the MOU construction can begin on the road this summer.
Earlier, the Governor released $6.1 million to the University for work on the Hawaii Community College Manono Campus and for the new West Hawaii Education Center. A large portion of these funds were going to be used for the road construction. With these funds lapsing on June 30, 2010 and the MOU still being negotiated, these funds will now all be used for the Manono Campus.
Ten million dollars of additional capital improvement funds (CIP) were established in the FY10 – FY11 budget. The Governor has just released these funds for use on the East Hawaii Manono Campus and West Hawaii Education Center. With the release of this funding there are now sufficient funds available to build the road and the first building on the new campus.
The supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the “University of Hawaii – West Hawaii” is in its final steps. All final documents and public comments have been submitted to OEQC for processing and publication. Review and approval by the University of Hawaii could be completed by August 2010.
The approved SEIS for the West Hawaii Campus sets in motion all of the “University” conditions required in the ordinance that approved the Palamanui Development District. It is my interpretation that a two year time frame to build the infrastructure and campus building will be created by this document.
Palamanui Development is proceeding with plans to build the needed infrastructure for their project and the University. They are currently in negotiations with the Water Department on how to proceed with the completion and use of two wells associated with the Palamanui project.
This long needed project is getting ever closer. Watch for the bulldozers!
(Related items:
Why Did Governor Lingle Decide To Release The Funding For The UH West Hawaii Campus Now After Withholding It For Three Years?
The Solicitation Of Bids To Construct The Initial UH West Hawaii Campus Roadway Has Been Placed On Hold
Rep. Coffman’s May 7th, 2010 Campus Update)
July 1st, 2010 at 6:55 AM
Can we really trust the powers that be in Hilo not to grab as much as they can from West Hawaii campus.
The ACF chefs have been collecting money to make the new campus the best culinary facility there is. This was started years ago when the campus was supposed to OPEN in 2010 . I’m not holding my breath until this is finished –
July 1st, 2010 at 3:02 PM
It’s about time… sheesh.