Last fall, the state Department of Transportation began road work on Honoapiilani Highway from Hoohui Road to Kapalua (job 1). Earlier this year, work on the same highway from Honokowai to Hoohui (job 2) started. The question is: Is anyone tracking the completion of the contracts?
Job 1 still doesn't have permanent lane markings at Office Road nor have the pylons at the foot of Kahana Nui Road, meant to discourage illegal left turns, been reinstalled. No work is ongoing and yet the reduced construction speed limit through the area is still in effect.
Job 2 would appear to be complete with the exception of restoring the lowered construction speed limit back to the normal 45 mph speed limit. I saw a car pulled over by the police and had to wonder if they'd been busted for exceeding 35 mph when the 45 mph speed limit should have been restored two months ago.
I remember when the detour south of Puamana was in place to finish the flood control channel under the highway. It took more than a year after the job was finished to get the speed limit restored.
So, it would be appreciated if someone who has the ear of the right person at the state Department of Transportation could find out what the problem is. It would be helpful if there were a checklist and final payment of any contract couldn't be made until everything on the checklist was done.
Nell Woods
Kahana
