Safety ‘big concern’ in road improvements in Makawao

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MAKAWAO - Maui County is moving ahead with a $10 million project to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Makawao Avenue and Makani Road.

Plans call for road widening and creating in- and out-bound turning lanes at the intersection as well as bicycle lanes and sidewalks from the Mayor Eddie Tam Gym to Kalama Intermediate School. Other project features include the installation of street lights, the relocation of utilities and drainage improvements.

Landowners who would lose property for the road widening would be compensated, according to a draft environmental assessment published Thursday by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. A 30-day public comment period began with the date of publication in the office's Environmental Notice.

Council Member Mike Molina, who holds the council's Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, said the roadway project has been discussed for about four years.

Pedestrian safety is a "big concern," he said, because Makani Road leads to Kalama Intermediate.

"A lot of kids walk to school," Molina said. "Sometimes they're walking on the road or close to traffic. The sooner we deal with this (roadway) improvement the better."

The county already has set aside $500,000 to plan the project and another $500,000 to acquire private property to widen roadways, according to a staff member with the Office of Council Services.

Such roadway projects are typically paid with 80 percent federal funding and a 20 percent county matching amount, said Department of Public Works Director Milton Arakawa.

Public Works officials will seek the approximately $2 million matching amount from council members in next year's budget cycle, he said. If approved, the appropriation would make construction money available for the project in July, though the project's environmental assessment foresees the project beginning in June 2011.

Federal money has been committed to the project through the State Transportation Improvement Program, Arakawa said.

Public Works officials will schedule a public meeting on the project as part of the environmental assessment process and meet with property owners who may be affected by land acquisitions, he said.

Arakawa did not anticipate any landowners losing homes.

The project would "bring a necessary upgrade to the roadway system in Makawao," Arakawa said, adding that it would increase traffic circulation, provide bike lanes and allow pedestrians to use a sidewalk continuously from Kalama Intermediate to Makawao town.

"There's a definite need for sidewalks," Molina said.

A speed hump installed on Makawao Avenue a few years ago helped calm traffic, he said. But congestion in the area continues to be heavy.

Also, there may be some issues with property owners whose land is needed for road widening, but "we'll have to wait and see," Molina said.

Once the project begins, it's expected to take about a year to complete.

Public comments can be addressed to:

* Cary Yamashita; Engineering Division Chief, Department of Public Works; 200 S. High St.; Kalana O Maui Building, fourth floor; Wailuku 96793. Phone: 270-7745.

* Chester Koga; R.M. Towill Corp.; 2024 N. King St., Suite 200; Honolulu 96819-3494. Phone: (808) 842-1133. E-mail: chesterk@rmtowill.com.

On the Web:

*?Draft environmental assessment: oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/Environmental_Notice/current_issue.pdf

* Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.