Meeting Highlights Final Phase of Kahekili Highway Resurfacing

Kahekili Highway resurfacing. File photo courtesy County of Maui.

By Maui Now Staff

The county will begin the third and final phase of the ongoing Kahekili Highway resurfacing project on Monday, Oct. 6, 2014.

Work on the final phase will start at mile 10.5 near Wailena Gulch and will end at mile 7 near the entrance of Camp Maluhia.

The cost of the project is estimated at $500,000 and is made possible through the County’s Pavement Preservation program.

County officials say construction is expected to conclude by March 31, 2015.

Before the phase begins, the county will host a community meeting to update the public on project impacts.

Kahekili Highway project area map. Image courtesy County of Maui.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014 at 6 p.m. at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku.

County officials with the Department of Public Works, Highways Division, say work will include: repair of road deficiencies such as potholes, depressions and cracks; resurfacing the highway; trimming and removing overhanging vegetation; cleaning and widening road shoulders; paving shoulder swales for better drainage and reduced erosion.

According to a county announcement, paving of the road will commence once prep work is completed.  During paving of the section of road between mile 10.5 and 9.8, and the section of road between mile 8.4 and 7, county officials say traffic will not be allowed to pass around the work in progress.

When crews work on the section of road between mile 9.8 and 8.4, traffic will be detoured around the work area through The Cliffs of Kahakuloa to Maluhia Country Estates via Kaukini Loop.

County officials say work on Phase 3 will cause traffic delays including partial and full road closures during work hours from Monday through Friday, excluding County holidays, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

According to the announcement, the road closure will be opened as needed to allow the school bus and any emergency responders to pass through the closed area.

“Residents are asked to adjust family and work schedules to accommodate the safety improvements to this heavily-traveled road, and motorists are asked to obey all posted signs and roadblocks,” the announcement stated.

Public Works director David Goode commented in a department press release saying, “It’s impossible for traffic to pass safely through the construction area because Kahekili Highway is very narrow, which means our trucks and equipment take up the entire road.  The paving machine itself is nearly the full width of the existing road, which has many twists and turns as well as the dangerously steep drop-offs and high cliffs the area is famous for. The safety of motorists, bicyclists and our workers is of utmost importance, so we thank everyone in advance for their cooperation and understanding,” he said.