CHECK IT OUT
Facing bumps along the way
POSTED: May 12, 2008
A Kula resident says a portion of Lower Kula Road, which begins across the street from Omaopio Road and runs to Lower Kula Drive, has been under construction for several weeks with underground utility work. As the crew completes sections, the road is covered and repaved, “but it is now even bumpier and (more) uneven than ever,” he says.
“Will the county be resurfacing that portion of the road once all construction has been completed?”
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The work is a water improvement project by the county Department of Water Supply, said Lance Nakamura of the Public Works Department’s Development Services Administration.
“The repaving that has been done to this point is only temporary paving that will be replaced at the end of the project,” he said. “It is our understanding that the waterline has been installed, but final tie-ins to the main line still need to be completed.”
Nakamura said the waterline must also be pressure tested.
“Final repaving of the project will be done once all water improvements have been completed and adequately tested,” he said. “Repaving will not be done over the entire road. Only the trench for the new waterline will be repaved.
“The construction inspector from the Department of Public Works will continue to work with the site contractor to keep the temporary patching maintained until final paving is completed.”
Department of Water Supply Administrative Officer Jacky Takakura said it will be at least a couple of months before the permanent repaving work is done.
Last week, the waterline project contractor, Maui Master Builders, was working to fix potholes, she said.
“The waterline is mainly completed,” she said of the project to lay a half mile of 8-inch waterline under Lower Kula Road from Ka Drive to Kimo Drive. “However, we can’t tie it in until some valves are installed above the project. They are on order and will be installed in a couple of months. Then, the contractor will go back and do the final hot mix patching of the road.”
In the meantime, residents can call 270-7835 to report problems with potholes, she said.
Takakura asked that pothole reports include the exact location, with a street address or landmark, to make it possible for the contractor to make repairs.
The new waterline is being installed to provide residents with improved fire protection and to replace old and inadequate pipes, Takakura said.
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