Tag Archives: Queen Kaahumanu Highway

February 9, 2012

Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Project Update

By Aaron Stene

I heard through a reliable source the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project was delayed until August 2012. This decision was apparently  made after a recent stakeholders meeting. Dan Meisenzahl, the HDOT’s Chief of Communications, couldn’t confirm this rumor when I called him last week. However, he sent me an e-mail two days ago out of the blue stating the HDOT is shooting to start construction by September 2012. This date may be pushed up, if the ongoing Section 106 consultations is completed sooner. In addition, the federal funding for this project is still secure despite these delays, according to Mr. Meisenzahl.

This latest revelation doesn’t surprise me. Nevertheless, I think the DOT could’ve handled this better. The HDOT Highways Director promised there wouldn’t be any further delays at Senator Green’s Talk Story meeting in December 2012.

This roadway project has faced all sorts of problems from contested bid awards and archaeological issues. I believe they could’ve been addressed if the HDOT did a supplemental EA before this project was awarded to Goodfellow Brothers.

1 comment   |  tags: , | posted in Hawaii Transportation

January 23, 2012

Palani Road Concrete Pavement: Is It Too Rough?

By Aaron Stene

Several individuals complained about the new concrete pavement on Palani Road here. They don’t like the rough concrete surface.

I did some research on these grooves. They’re concrete control joints. These joints help minimize the cracking of the concrete. Nevertheless, I sought out a second opinion regarding this issue. These longitudinal grooves help prevent hydroplaning during wet weather. However, this isn’t usually done on only a 7% grade roadway.

The new pavement is admittedly a bit rough, especially on the mauka bound lane, but its also a huge improvement over the old pothole riddled asphalt pavement.

Lastly, I believe the Queen Kaahumanu Highway phase II widening project won’t  start in April 2012. I doubt Section 106 consultation process, which is addressing several archaeological sites within the right of way, will be completed by then.

This highway improvement project is critical to the Kona community and needs to move forward. We need to express this to the HDOT and the FHWA.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in Hawaii Transportation

December 30, 2011

The Kona Blog’s Top 2011 Stories

By Aaron Stene

These are the Kona Blog’s top five stories from 2011:

1. March 11, 2011 Japan tsunami

2. Judge Strance’s December 16th, 2011 ruling, which reversed the LUC’s land classification reversion of The Villages at Aina Le’a project

3. The completion of the Mamalahoa (Hokuli’a) Bypass is assured. It was held up by 1250 Oceanside Partners financial problems and the Coupes decision to block the condemnation of part of their land for this roadway

4. Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening delays. This project is now slated to begin in April 2012

5. Saddle Road improvements continue. Kirkland Construction of Colorado recently started the next phase of this project.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Transportation

December 27, 2011

Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Project Update

By Aaron Stene

The DCCA-CATV division and Oceanic Time Warner Cable mutually agreed to delay the DCCA’s final decision on their Hawaii County franchise renewal until March 1st, 2012.

Nan’s concrete subcontractor laid the concrete forms for the second segment of Palani Road from the fire station to the Henry Street intersection. In addition, they’ve poured concrete 1/3 of the way up this segment.

Nan is slated to begin pouring cement using the specialized concrete paving equipment starting the first week in January between the Henry Street intersection and the West Hawaii Civic Center.

I spoke to Isaac Harp over the weekend about the archaeological concerns raised by several Native Hawaiian Organizations regarding the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project. The NHO’s are waiting for the archaeologists to analyze the recently found sites in the northern segment.

I hope this project starts by April 2012. Nevertheless, I have strong doubts it will start by then. These archaeological issues can’t be taken lightly and need to be addressed before construction can begin.

Lastly, Inversecondemnation published an excellent commentary about Bridge Aina Le’a LLC’s lawsuit against the State Land Use Commission. The Federal Court in Honolulu recently held a hearing regarding this lawsuit. Judge Mollway asked the parties to file briefs explaining how the recent state Court ruling impacted this lawsuit and deferred this case until March 19, 2012.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Economy, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Politics, Hawaii Transportation

December 26, 2011

Hawaii DOT Advertised Latest Mamalahoa Highway Resurfacing Project

By Aaron Stene

The HDOT advertised the Mamalahoa Highway resurfacing project (between Makalei and Palani Junction) on Friday. Construction is slated to begin six months after bid opening .

Senator Green assured attendees of his Thursday talk story meeting that Hawaii County’s share of the Transient Accommodations Tax won’t be cut in 2012.

I recently spoke to the manager, who is overseeing the Palani Water Transmission project. He told me the fencing material  arrived at CTS’s baseyard on December 16th. This material will be used to complete fence around the new Palani Road water tank. I’m planning on following up with him this week to get an update.

The HDOT director gave an update on several other transportation projects in West Hawaii at Senator Green’s talk story meeting on Thursday.

Queen Kaahumanu Highway improvements at Kiholo Bay is slated to be completed by March 16th, 2012

Queen Kaahumanu Highway intersection improvements at Kawaihae Road will be advertised by December 2012.

Lastly, the Kona side Saddle Road segment is scheduled to be paved beginning in December 2012. Kirkland Construction has up to 19 months to complete the earthwork for this phase. Nevertheless, I doubt they’ll get it done within the DOT’s estimated time frame.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Hawaii Development, Hawaii Planning, Hawaii Technology, Hawaii Transportation

December 23, 2011

Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Project Delayed Again

By Aaron Stene

I attended Senator Josh Green’s talk story meeting on Thursday night. Glenn Okimoto, the Hawaii Department of Transportation Director, provided updates on several West Hawaii transportation projects. The delayed Queen Kaahumanu Highway phase II widening project elicited the most questions. They hoped to begin construction in January 2012. However, the DOT has pushed this date back to April 2012.

The archaeological issues raised by several Native Hawaiian Organizations caused this latest delay. I don’t hold ill will against these individuals for doing this. The HDOT should’ve addressed these issues before the project was awarded.

I e-mailed Isaac Harp yesterday to get an update regarding the NHO’s concerns, but I haven’t heard back from him yet.

These delays won’t impact the project’s funding. The HDOT already obligated funds for these improvements, so there isn’t any chance it will expire.

I didn’t get any advanced warning from my HDOT contacts regarding this latest delay. The consultations with the Native Hawaiian Organizations are ongoing, so there is no firm start date, per the last update from one of my contacts. Nevertheless, they really want to authorize Goodfellow Brothers to start work on the northern segment (Kona Int’l Airport to Hina-Lani Drive) soon.

2 comments   |  tags: , | posted in Hawaii Transportation

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