Work began Monday and will continue for a month on installing cameras that will feed information to the goakamai.org website. Currently, only Oahu has the real-time traffic capability, with 200 cameras around the island streaming information to the site.

“The real-time information helps the public plan their trips accordingly,” state Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara said.

He said cameras will be used for traffic flow data only and not to monitor or document possible violations, such as running a red light.

Goakamai.org is a one-stop resource for Hawaii travelers that provides real-time, at-a-glance traffic congestion information, according to its website. Mygoakamai is a traffic alerting service that allows users to personalize traffic pages and to get easy access to traffic conditions via text or email.

This image was captured from Go Akamai’s website on Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of H-201 and Red Hill. Hawaii Department of Transportation photo

The site also provides information on road activities, such as “incidents,” “congestion,” “construction,” “weather” and “special event.”

“I would definitely use this feature for planning my drive to work every day,” said Chris Coleon, a Wailuku resident who commutes to Lahaina for work about five to six times a week. He said the one-way afternoon trip takes 40 minutes on an easy day.

The improvements cost about $250,000 and are funded by the state Capital Improvement Program’s Traffic Signal Modernization project awarded in 2018, according to the Transportation Department.

Overall, all 80 existing traffic signals on Maui are set to be modernized, Sakahara said. The work will “allow connectivity” among signals and set up a cloud-based Advanced Traffic Management System.

“The ATMS consists of controllers, a travel time system, cellular communications, conflict monitor units, and system monitors to enable (state Department of Transportation) to remotely optimize traffic signal timing on Maui,” he said.

In this phase, cameras are being installed at the following intersections:

• Haleakala and Hana highways.

• Honoapiilani Highway and North Kihei Road.

• Airport Access Road and Hana Highway.

• Piilani Highway and Piikea Street.

• Maui Veterans Highway and North Kihei Road.

• Kaahumanu Avenue and Kahului Beach Road.

• Hana Highway and Baldwin Avenue.

• Haleakala and Kula highways.

• Honoapiilani Highway and Keawe Street.

• Kuihelani Highway and Puunene Avenue.

Two cameras are going up at the Kuihelani Highway and Puunene Avenue intersection. The rest of the intersections will have one camera.

Intersections on Honoapiilani Highway in Maalaea, on the Lahaina bypass and on Hana Highway at Baldwin Avenue in Paia cause some of the longest traffic delays on the island. Coleon said he sees the most traffic at the Lahaina bypass and the Maalaea intersection.

A launch date for Maui’s Go Akamai has not been set, but state DOT Maui District Engineer Robin Shishido said he anticipates the service coming online in the near future.

“I hope to have this up and running by the end of summer,” he said.

Go Akamai is supported by the state DOT and by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services.

* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@maui news.com.