WAILEA - A $26 million project to widen Piilani Highway from two to four lanes between Kilohana and Wailea Iki drives is moving ahead as a collaboration between the state Department of Transportation and developers of the Makena Resort and Honua'ula projects in South Maui.
Construction of the nearly 1.45-mile-long project would take about 18 months to complete, according to the Environmental Notice, published May 8 by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control.
Developers participating in the design and construction of the project include Honua'ula Partners LLC, A&B Wailea LLC, Keaka LLC and ATC Makena Holdings LLC.
The Makena and Honua'ula developers are required as part of zoning conditions to take part in the project aimed at mitigating traffic in the Wailea-Makena region, the notice points out.
For the Honua'ula project, formerly known as Wailea 670 with plans for 1,400 homes and apartments, the developers can only do grading work until Piilani Highway is widened between Kilohana and Wailea Ike drives.
The Makena developers, whose project plans call for 1,100 homes, are required to pay their prorata share to widen the stretch of Piilani Highway when they begin the first phase of construction, according to the Environmental Notice.
According to state transportation officials, the project is "not expected to cause substantial environmental impacts, but there will be short-term construction-related impacts from traffic, noise and dust."
Most of the work will occur in the existing highway right of way, except for nearby construction on private and county-owned property, the department said. Construction impacts will be mitigated.
Aside from widening the highway, planned work includes excavation and embankment work, construction of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drainage systems, storm water retention systems, retaining walls and "sound attenuation" walls, the relocation of electrical transmission lines, guard rails and the installation of and adjustments to utilities. Work also includes the reconstruction or installation of traffic signals at intersections with the new highway segment.
A 5-acre temporary construction baseyard and staging area will be located to the east of the Wailea Ike Drive-Piilani Highway intersection, state transportation officials said.
In another Maui highway project, the Environmental Notice provides public notice of state and Federal Highway Administration plans to relocate the southern end of the Lahaina bypass highway from its current terminus at Launiupoko to the vicinity of the former Olowalu landfill, a distance of about 4,800 feet to the south on Honoapiilani Highway.
Public comments on the proposed shift south are due by June 7. Comments may be sent to the state Department of Transportation, 869 Punchbowl St., Honolulu 96813; or to consultant Munekiyo & Hiraga Inc., 305 High St., Suite 104, Wailuku 96793.
* Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com.
