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The state Department of Education plans to build an overpass over Piilani Highway for the long-awaited Kihei high school currently under construction -- a development which appears to push the school's opening past the anticipated 2021-22 school year.
The Piilani Highway crossing had hung up the project that has been in the making for more than a decade -- the school was initially targeted to open in 2014. The overpass or underpass of the highway was a condition set by the state Land Use Commission when approving the project in 2013.
The DOE decided to install only a traffic signal, pointing to studies that showed current conditions warrant only a signalized intersection. About a year ago, the commission voted to reaffirm the 2013 decision calling for a pedestrian overpass or underpass to be completed before the opening of the school, which is being built on 77 acres mauka of the intersection of Piilani Highway and Kulanihakoi Street. Commissioners and community members were concerned about the safety of children crossing the multiple-lane highway.
In a letter to county Planning Director Michele McLean on March 23, DOE Executive Assistant Tracy Okumura said that the department is "committed to moving forward with the design of the pedestrian overpass." Okumura said that the design process had started with the balance of the design work to be funded by a legislative add-on appropriation.
The timeline submitted to McLean indicates completion of the overpass project in June 2023 with a highway closure and bypass during the yearlong construction process. An environmental assessment for the project is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the design and contract to be awarded by June 2022.
The department is requesting approval of building permit applications for five structures on the campus from the county, Okumura said.
But there is a problem with the granting of the building permits. With construction already underway, the land board could not force the DOE to build the overpass or underpass but offered guidance to the county, which does have the power to grant the building permits.
In responding to the DOE, McLean said that the land board and County Council approvals for the high school called for the overpass or underpass "to be constructed not just designed."
"For the department to find compliance with these conditions, the overpass (or underpass) must be completed and usable before or at the same time that the school buildings are ready for occupancy," McLean said in a response to the DOE on April 3.
"If you can provide us with a letter that documents your commitment to constructing the overpass (or underpass) and having it ready for use before or when the buildings are ready for occupancy, then we can conditionally approve the building permits," McLean said. "Please note that we will withhold approval of any Certificate of Occupancy until the overpass (or underpass) is constructed and usable."
She also said that the Planning Department did not believe an environmental assessment was necessary but could provide an analysis of alternatives and input from the community.
The DOE has said that the school could open with the completion of phase 2, which includes two classroom buildings, a library/cafeteria, physical education building/lockeroom, basketball courts and temporary play field, according to the timeline.
The timeline calls for completion of construction of phase 2 in September 2021, but the overpass is not projected to be finished until June 2023.
Phase 2 already was being held up by a bid protest. DOE spokesman Derek Inoshita said last week that the protest had been resolved earlier this year and that work is underway to award the contract.
"The anticipated opening date may be impacted if the future contract awards see delays," he said.
In other Kihei high school developments, state Sen. Roz Baker, whose district includes South Maui, said last week that Gov. David Ige had released $6 million for the school. Inoshita explained that the funds were allotted for phase 3, which includes two buildings for arts and media, culinary, technology and robotics classes.
The phase 3 design is expected to be finished in the summer with building completion set for 2023, the timeline said.
Inoshita said phase 1 infrastructure work is nearing completion for the school with an expected capacity of about 1,650 students when fully built out.
* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.