State lawmakers on Thursday approved a resolution to develop a plan to improve a road in Waimea to serve as an emergency bypass route.
During a meeting of the Senate committees on Hawaiian Affairs, Agriculture and Environment, and Transportation, legislators passed a resolution urging the state departments of Transportation and Hawaiian Home Lands, as well as Hawaii County, to make necessary improvements to Mealani Road in Waimea.
North Hawaii Democrat Sen. Lorraine Inouye who is chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, told committee members that the unimproved road is used by local residents to circumvent traffic on Mamalahoa Highway and is the only existing bypass road during times when the highway is blocked east of Waimea.
However, because the road is under DHHL jurisdiction, use of the road is technically prohibited save for DHHL beneficiaries, despite it being well known among local residents, Inouye said.
DOT and DHHL submitted support for a plan to convert the road into a usable emergency bypass route. That plan must be submitted to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the convening of the 2021 legislative session.
The committees approved the resolution without incident, and Inouye thanked her fellows for their support.
“This project is really long overdue,” Inouye said.
Email Michael Brestovansky@mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.