Hawaii County in 2009 qualified for $35 million in federal funding to build Ane Keohokalole Highway, previously referred to as the midlevel road. Its first phase will run from Henry Street to Kealakehe Parkway, ending at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Plans call for the road to eventually extend farther north, to Hina Lani Street.
Mauka-bound drivers will detour
BY ERIN MILLER
WEST HAWAII TODAY
emiller@westhawaiitoday.com
Kona motorists who have been sitting in traffic the last several nights as they come down Palani Road into Kailua-Kona may see vehicles moving more quickly starting next week.
But their new convenience will come at the expense of mauka-bound motorists, who will be detoured south onto Henry Street before resuming their drive up the mountain to many North Kona neighborhoods.
The mauka-bound lanes of Palani Road will close effective Tuesday, county Department of Public Works spokeswoman Noelani Whittington said Friday afternoon. That closure could last up to two months.
Drivers were to see some traffic changes Friday night when county officials began prohibiting left turns from Henry Street to Palani Road, Whittington said. The closures are the result of increasing traffic congestion at the intersection because of Ane Keohokalole Highway construction.
“Our traffic cameras have been watching the situation and changing the timing to alleviate the traffic flow situation,” she said.
Just changing the timing of the lights didn’t offset the traffic backup, which several nights this week stretched from Henry Street almost to Kealakaa Street.
DPW got permission from state Department of Transportation officials to close the intersection at Queen Kaahumanu Highway late Friday, Whittington said.
Mauka-bound traffic will be diverted from Palani Road onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway, then drivers may turn left onto Henry Street and right back onto Palani Road.
Although Ane Keohokalole Highway is a new road, its intersection with Henry Street previously caused traffic delays. In June and July, drivers could not turn onto or off of Henry Street at Palani Road while utility work was completed. Nan Inc. officials initially intended to close Palani Road lanes in phases.
Hawaii County in 2009 qualified for $35 million in federal funding to build Ane Keohokalole Highway, previously referred to as the midlevel road. Its first phase will run from Henry Street to Kealakehe Parkway, ending at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Plans call for the road to eventually extend farther north, to Hina Lani Street.