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With South Kihei Road unable to handle traffic heading south to Wailea, Piilani Highway was expanded by two lanes to a four-lane highway with the speed limit at 45 mph, but that was not good enough.
Piilani was extended again, with four lanes almost to the south terminus and the speed limit dropped to 40 mph. A lot of lights were put on double-timing to aid traffic flow.
Kihei Charter School opened, resulting in a big bottleneck at Lipoa Street, a prelude of what will happen when the new high school opens.
Now, the limit changes to 30 mph for the school's construction the entire length (temporary). State is planning to build a 15- to 20-mph roundabout in highway and make permanent 35 mph the whole length.
The state officials said they reviewed worldwide roundabouts with favorable results. I know they didn't talk to N.J., because that state spent millions, if not billions, to replace most roundabouts on four-lane highways, which then caused too much congestion.
Anyone proposing a roundabout in the middle of Piilani Highway must have their head in the sand. Put a pathway under the road as originally agreed to when the high school was approved.
Russell R. Rittler
Kihei