Alii Drive shoulder widening hits halfway point on projected timeline

KAILUA-KONA — The construction project slowing traffic on Alii Drive in the heart of Kailua Village is halfway to completion.

Hawaii County invested just shy of $800,000, primarily to widen the shoulder on the mauka side of the popular oceanfront thoroughfare, said Department of Public Works spokesperson Barett Otani.

He added the primary purpose of the widening is pedestrian safety, as the area is tourist central in Kailua-Kona and handles a considerable chunk of both local and visitor foot and bicycle traffic.

The work, which currently consumes the mauka lane of traffic from Waterfront Row to the crosswalk fronting Alii Sunset Plaza, began Oct. 15 and is set for completion on Jan. 31.

The project also incorporates ancillary work, including the reconstruction of a staircase fronting Kona Alii that will connect the shops above to the widened shoulder below.

Jas. W. Glover Ltd. won the county contract for the work. An employee for the company on site Thursday said construction was moving along more or less on schedule.

Otani said the project will continue to affect traffic between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays until it’s completed at the end of January. Two lanes of traffic will continue to be available during non-work hours and on weekends.