KAILUA-KONA — The proposed Mamalahoa Highway widening project in Waimea is on track to go to bid after clearing a state required process last month. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — The proposed Mamalahoa Highway widening project in Waimea is on track to
KAILUA-KONA — The proposed Mamalahoa Highway widening project in Waimea is on track to go to bid after clearing a state required process last month.
The project, which will widen 2.8 miles from Mud Lane to Mana Road, has a the price tag of $25 million. The project consists of widening the Mamalahoa Highway at 18 major intersections, with left-turn pockets and drainage improvements.
Acting Hawaii County Mayor Wil Okabe said there is $5.8 million already available for the project. However, they are waiting for the Department of Transportation and federal government to expend other funds.
Deputy Director Allan Simeon with Public Works said the county is hoping to pay for the project with as much federal money as possible.
The project does qualify for 80 percent funding from Federal Highway Administration. The county will match that at 20 percent.
The county’s hope, Simeon added, is to know how much money they’ll get by the end of this month.
“Project completion depends on how much money we get,” he said. “We hope to be able to bid the whole project. If not, we have to tailor project.”
Hawaii County was in danger of losing federal funds if it was not moved through the Department of Land Natural Resource’s State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) process.
Mayor Harry Kim sent a letter to DLNR Chairwoman Suzanne Case on July 7, asking her to expedite the Section 106 process.
The county needed to reach a planning and design conclusion by Aug. 14 to encumber federal obligation funds. SHPD completed its review and sent its letter to the county on July 18.
The purpose of the Section 106 process is to first gauge if any historically significant sites might be affected by a project, then eliminate or sufficiently mitigate those potential impacts. Such determinations must be made before any federal dollars are released to the project in question.
The section of road will be widened 7.5 feet on each side, according to Barett Otani, with the Hawaii County Department of Public Works.
Otani said it will take about 500 days to complete depending on weather and construction conditions.
Otani said the section of road is a priority for the county because it will facilitate traffic flow, circulation and improve public safety.
