Ask The Mayor: Why is Kulanihakoi Street Exit Still Closed?

Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his staff.

Q:  Would you please address the closing of the Kulanihakoi Street exit off Piʻilani Highway since March? I believe the completion date was originally slated for April.

A:  Unfortunately, the contractor for this state Department of Education project has encountered multiple issues for the direction drilling installation of underground utilities for the new Kihei high school.

The work was originally expected to be completed by April 30, but was pushed to the end of May due to construction issues. State officials told my staff that it is taking longer than expected to complete the drilling, pulling of utility lines and testing.

They are now looking at underground utility work to be completed in mid-August, but hope drilling work to finish sooner. This has been a difficult project for everyone and we remain in communication with the contractor and the state Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, our County of Maui Department of Public Works is working on its own project to reconstruct and rehabilitate Kulanihakoi Street, which has been put on hold until the utilities work is completed. The county’s work includes removing existing pavement to subgrade and replacing with new asphalt concrete pavement, hot mix asphalt concrete base course, aggregate base and a reinforced geogrid.

The rehabilitation road work calls for cold planing 2.5 inches of the existing pavement and overlaying with 2.5 inches of new asphalt concrete pavement. Work also consists of replacing concrete sidewalks, curbs, gutters, curb ramps and utility collars; installation of new pavement striping, markers and signs; existing drain lines that will be cured-in-place; and other incidental items.

The county has already completed similar reconstruction and rehabilitation work on East Waipuilani Road, East Lipoa Street and East Welakahao Road.

Want to Ask The Mayor?

Submit your Maui County related questions to Mayor Michael Victorino by email at askthemayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail at 200 S. High St., ninth floor, Wailuku 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column; to request a personal response to a concern, email mayors.office@mauicounty.gov.