KAILUA-KONA – The long awaited Manawalea Road extension came one step closer to reality Tuesday with a ground breaking and blessing by Kahu Brian Boshard.
KAILUA-KONA – The long awaited Manawalea Road extension came one step closer to reality Tuesday with a ground breaking and blessing by Kahu Brian Boshard.
Construction of the $6.9 million road extension is expected to begin in November and be completed within 15 months.
The extension provides an additional mauka-makai thoroughfare aimed at alleviating traffic surrounding Kealakehe High School and will allow direct access to Ane Keohokalole Highway. Manawalea Road currently stops at Keanalehu Drive.
“This road will not only connect streets, it will connect families,” Boshard said.
The additional egress also provides the necessary infrastructure for the affordable family and senior housing projects that broke ground on Oct. 12 and are being developed by The Michaels Organization, called the Kamakana Villages, now under construction.
Since 2008 the state, county and federal government have worked together to create more affordable housing in Kona. Now under construction, Kamakana Villages required a number of approvals from both the state and county.
“We’ve been focusing on building homes that people can afford, and as we build, we have to make sure the roads can support the growing community. The Manawalea Road extension will help ease traffic for the residents of Kona,” said Hawaii Gov.David Ige.