Two more traffic lights are in the initial design phase for installation on Highway 190, or Mamalahoa Highway in North Kona.
The State Department of Transportation is planning on installing the lights at the intersections of Kaloko and Kaiminani Drives with the upper road, about one mile apart.
District 8 County Councilman Holeka Inaba said he became aware of the traffic problem in those areas during the last election.
“There was a significant desire from the Kaloko residents and Palisades Community Association to have a traffic signal installed,” he said.
Inaba said there was about $700,000 paid into the fair share account from Kaloko residents dating back to the early 1990’s who did change of zones and subdivisions specifically to be used for improvements to that intersection. That money still remains in the account.
“We took the money, but that is really a state intersection. The county took the money but couldn’t actually do the project,” Inaba explained. “I’m just thankful that we found a way to use the money that has been there over three decades.”
Inaba said he worked with members of the state DOT to perform traffic studies at both intersections, which were completed in March. Once the work begins, funds from the fair share account will be transferred to the state.
According to a traffic study, from 7 to 8 a.m. Mamalahoa Highway carried about 1,300 vehicles per hour (vph), total for both directions. The morning peak hour direction of traffic on Mamalahoa Highway was about 67% in the southbound direction. Kaiminani Drive carried over 500 vph, total for both directions. The 3:30 to 4:30 count was identical, with the direction switching to northbound on the state road.
In the most recent available crash data, DOT did not report any major traffic crashes at the intersection.
The report recommended traffic improvements including the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Kaiminani Drive should be signalized with a protected-permissive (green arrow-green ball) left-turn phase on northbound Mamalahoa Highway. The existing left-turn lane on northbound Mamalahoa Highway should be extended to provide a minimum of 225 feet of storage length in addition to the appropriate design speed deceleration length.
The existing median refuge lane on the north leg of Mamalahoa Highway should be restriped to a median and “Signal Ahead” warning signs should be installed on both approaches of Mamalahoa Highway at sufficient distances from Kaiminani Drive to permit motorists to respond to the traffic signals.
The existing morning peak hour of traffic at the study intersection at Kaloko Drive documented Mamalahoa Highway carried about 1,400 vph, total for both directions. The morning peak hour direction of traffic on Mamalahoa Highway was about 70% in the southbound direction. Kaloko Drive carried about 230 vph, total for both directions. The peak afternoon counts were identical with change in the direction of travel to northbound.
The most recent available crash data at the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Kaloko Drive found three major traffic crashes at the intersection between the years 2019 and 2021. No crashes involved vehicles turning from Kaloko Drive and no fatalities were reported.
The report recommended traffic improvements for the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Kaloko Drive including a traffic signal at the intersection. It also recommended Mamalahoa Highway should be widened to provide an exclusive left-turn lane in the southbound direction.
Northbound Mamalahoa Highway should be widened to provide an exclusive left-turn lane with the appropriate design speed deceleration length. Kaloko Drive should be widened to provide an exclusive left-turn lane and a channelized shared through/right-turn lane. “Signal Ahead” warning signs should be installed on both approaches of Mamalahoa Highway at sufficient distances from Kaloko Drive to permit motorists to respond to the proposed traffic signals.
Jason Yotsuda of the DOT said no public comment was received since the reports warrant the traffic signals which will improve the traffic operations as well as safety.
“The scope of work is still being determined since it’s still very early in the design phase and can affect the construction timeframe of the project. Assuming there are no complications within the design phase and no acquisition is needed, our current best estimate for the signals to be operational is summer of 2025,” he said.
“I’m really excited this is moving forward,” said Inaba. “I want to thank the community. I wouldn’t have known about it if community didn’t share.”