Ask the Mayor: Why is Mokulele Highway Being Repaved?

The cracked Mokulele roadway before construction began. Photo courtesy Maui County.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Dear Mayor Arakawa:

Q: Why are they repaving Mokulele Highway when it seemed to be in good driving condition before? There seem to be many other Maui roads that need resurfacing more than this one.

A: This is a State Department of Transportation project that involves resurfacing Mokulele Highway from Kuihelani Highway to the vicinity of the Maui Humane Society near Mehameha Loop, to extend the life of the existing pavement. the State DOT informed me that longitudinal cracking in the pavement showed that preventive maintenance was needed. Long cracks can lead to serious defects as water seepage and continual vehicle traffic breaks the asphalt into small chunks over large slab-sized sections of pavement, rather than in smaller-diameter potholes. To best protect the pavement from weathering, periodic resurfacing of the entire roadway is necessary. Construction is anticipated to be completed in June.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AsktheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.