Maui Gets $26 Million for Airports, Harbors, Highways

Image courtesy DOT.

By Wendy Osher

Nearly $26 million in Capital Improvement Project funds were released for harbor, airport and highway improvements in Maui County.

The funds are part of a larger $92.8 million release announced by Governor Neil Abercrombie today for the maintenance, upgrade, and expansion of transportation infrastructure across the state.

The largest Maui appropriation was $6 million for the design of a proposed consolidated rental car facility at Kahului Airport. The project was one of four at Kahului Airport included on the list.

Another significant appropriation was $5.5 million in funds for the design and construction for emergency erosion repairs on the Honoapi’ilani Highway.

“Our highways, airports and harbors are essential to island commerce and our way of life; everyone depends on the daily reliability and functionality of this core infrastructure,” said Gov. Abercrombie.

“By investing in these needed maintenance and improvement projects now, we will create local jobs and further stimulate the economy, while ensuring the continued flow of ground, air and ship transportation to, from and throughout the state,” he said.

The projects were identified by members of the state Legislature as priority projects, and the release of funds was approved by the governor.

Maui County Highway Projects:

• $5,500,000 – Honoapi’ilani Highway, Launiupoko, Maui – Design and construction funds for roadway emergency erosion repairs
• $2,400,000 – Kamehameha V Highway, Moloka’i – Design and construction funds for drainage improvements on the highway between Mohala Street and Oki Place
• $109,935 state funds and $438,940 federal funds – Kamehameha V, Maunaloa and Kalae Highways, Moloka’i – Construction funds for guardrail and shoulder improvements
• $907,000 – Ka’ahumanu Avenue, Maui – Design and construction to extend the right turn lane on Kaahumanu Avenue adjacent to the main entrance of the area school
• $36,700 state funds and $146,800 federal funds – Haleakala Crater Road, Maui – Construction funds to provide four paved bicycle pullout areas to increase safety for both bicyclists and motorists traveling to and from Haleakala National Park
• $20,000 – Kekaulike Avenue, Maui – Additional design funds for increased drainage capacity by installing an underground drainage system along the mauka shoulder

Maui County Airport Projects:

• $6,000,000 – Kahului Airport, Maui – Design funds for a proposed consolidated rental car facility- a two-level structure that will include a customer service building, quick-turnaround, and ready/return vehicle spaces
• $4,925,000 state funds and $25,839,000 federal grant – Lana’i Airport, Lana’i – Construction funds for improvements to the runway safety area to bring it up to Federal Aviation Administration certification requirements
• $3,500,000 – Kahului Airport, Maui – Land acquisition funds for adjacent land to prevent incompatible future developments that could compromise future airport and aircraft operations
• $500,000 – Kahului Airport, Maui – Design funds for project management support of capital improvement projects at Kahului Airport
• $305,000 state funds and $1,017,000 federal grant – Kahului Airport, Maui – Design funds to renovate restrooms, add air conditioning and update for lighting and sanitary measures
• $113,000 – Lana’i Airport, Lana’i – Construction funds to realign and update lighting for Runway 3 and the terminal apron to meet FAA requirements
• $700,000 – Kapalua Airport, Maui – Construction funds for a two-bay garage and storage structure as an addition to the existing Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting station

Maui County Harbor Projects:

• $500,000 – Kahului Harbor, Maui – Design and construction for replacement of approximately 1,800 linear feet of bullrails at Pier 1
• $400,000 – Kahului Harbor, Maui – Planning funds for preliminary engineering and property surveys

Other State Highway Projects:

• $3,650,000 – Farrington Highway, O’ahu – Construction funds for increased drainage capacity along Farrington Highway in the vicinity of Orange Street
• $3,496,000 – Kuhio Highway, Kaua’i – Additional land and construction funds to improve traffic flow and safety by realignment of the entrances to Kaua’i Community Correctional Center and Wailua Golf Course; and other traffic safety improvements
• $3,200,000 – Slope Improvements for Erosion Control, O’ahu – Construction funds to provide erosion control mitigation measures for various slopes on the island
• $3,918,000 state funds and $14,572,000 federal funds – Kea’au Bypass Road / Shower Drive, Hawai’i Island – Additional design and construction funds to convert existing Hilo-bound shoulder lane on Kea’au-Pahoa Road to a travel lane and construct a shoulder lane for use by pedestrians and bicyclists
• $1,760,000 – Miscellaneous Permanent Best Management Practices, O’ahu – Construction funds to address stormwater runoff permitting requirements for various highway locations
• $1,500,000 – Radford Drive to Waiawa Interchange, O’ahu – Additional construction funds for Interstate Route H-1 Contraflow Lane, Phase 2, for a wall in the vicinity of ‘Aiea Hongwanji
• $1,000,000 – Kahekili Highway, O’ahu – Additional planning funds to update the environmental assessment to widen the segment of highway between Haiku Road and Kamehameha Highway to four lanes and improve the interchange at the Likelike-Kahekili Highway intersection to improve traffic and safety
• $600,000 – Waimea Canyon Drive / Koke’e Road, Kaua’i – Design funds for paved shoulders along Waimea Canyon Drive and Koke’e Road
• $600,000 state funds and $2,400,000 federal funds – Freeway Management System, O’ahu – Design funds for system management to assist state Department of Transportation in developing and deploying a freeway management system for Interstate H-1, H-2 and Moanalua Freeways
• $600,000 – Mamalahoa Highway Drainage Improvements, Hawai’i Island – Design funds for highway drainage improvements on the Mamalahoa Highway
• $400,000 – Castle Hills Access Road, Phase I, O’ahu – Additional construction funds for erosion facilities and storm drain structures along Kapunahala Stream in the vicinity of Po’okela Street
• $525,400 state funds and $2,101,600 federal funds – Kamehameha Highway, O’ahu – Design funds for replacement of Upper Poamoho Stream Bridge in Wahiawa with a new bridge to meet current vehicular load and seismic requirements
• $520,000 state funds and $2,080,000 federal funds – Interstate Route H-1 Corridor, O’ahu – Planning funds to improve safety and traffic congestion, within the H-1 corridor
• $449,500 state funds and $4,045,500 federal funds – Interstate Routes H-1 and H-2, O’ahu – Construction funds to replace and/or upgrade a number of destination signs along Routes H-1 and H-2 on O’ahu
• $426,000 – Kamehameha Highway Shoreline Protection, O’ahu – Design funds for permanent measures to mitigate roadway erosion along the coastal areas of Kamehameha Highway in the vicinity of Hau’ula and Ka’a’awa
• $350,000 – Hawai’i Belt Road, Hawai’i Island – Additional design funds for drainage improvements to prevent flooding into adjacent properties
• $350,000 – Interstate Route H-2, Mililani Interchange, O’ahu – Planning funds to conduct a traffic study to evaluate existing conditions and develop potential solutions to improve safety and traffic flow from Mililani onto the H-2 Freeway
• $310,000 – Various locations, statewide – Design funds for additional intersection improvements to ensure pedestrian safety and compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements; the additional funds will be used for the design at 23 more intersection sites on four islands that have been identified as requiring replacement pedestrian signal heads with countdown timers
• $300,000 state funds and $1,200,000 federal funds – Farrington Highway Ulehawa Stream Bridge, O’ahu – Design for a new bridge that meets current standards
• $260,000 – Intersections and highway facilities, O’ahu – Design funds for additional improvements to increase traffic flow and safety along the H-1 corridor from the Punahou Street off-ramp to the westbound Pali Highway and eastbound from Vineyard Boulevard to Punahou Street
• $230,000 state funds and $841,250 federal funds – Ma’alo Road, Kaua’i – Construction funds for upgrading or replacing guardrail end terminals to meet current standards
• $215,000 state funds and $860,000 federal funds – Hawai’i Belt Road, Hawai’i Island – Construction funds for guardrail and shoulder improvements along a 1.61-mile stretch of road from Papalele Road to Kaumoali Bridge
• $162,000 – Hilo Bayfront Highway Shoreline, Hawai’i Island – Land ($2,000) and design ($160,000) to mitigate roadway erosion along the coastal areas of Hilo Bayfront Highway from milepost 1.76 to 2.39 (Wave action during high surf and storm surges has eroded the roadway)
• $180,000 state funds and $720,000 federal funds – Kuakini Highway, Hawai’i Island – Widening Kuakini Highway, which serves as the primary transportation corridor through Kailua-Kona, from two to four lanes; additional planning funds requested to study and evaluate existing traffic conditions in the south Kona area of Hawai’i
• $159,000 state funds and $636,000 federal funds – Hawai’i Belt Road / Pahoehoe Stream Bridge, Hawai’i Island – Design funds for a new bridge that meets current standards
• $107,000 – Hilo Bayfront Highway, Hawai’i Island – Additional design funds for design of the replacement of traffic signal systems as well as traffic operational improvements
• $60,000 state funds and $240,000 federal funds – Moanalua Freeway, Puuloa Interchange, O’ahu – Additional design funds for additional borings required to complete the seismic analysis of the structures
• $40,000 state funds and $360,000 federal funds – Interstate Route H-1, O’ahu – Additional construction as part of seismic retrofit of Pali Interchange and Nu’uanu Avenue separation
• $40,000 state funds and $160,000 federal funds – Kamehameha Highway Laieloa Stream Bridge, O’ahu – Additional design funds to provide more soil borings and analysis due to lengthening of the bridge span, and supplemental topographic surveying required

Other State Airport Projects:

• $14,000,000 – Hilo International Airport, Hawai’i Island – Additional construction for a new cargo facility building
• $4,875,000 – Kona International Airport at Keahole, Onizuka Museum, Hawai’i Island – Construction funds to relocate the Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center to the former Ground Transportation Building site; scope of work also includes demolition of the existing Ground Transportation Building and miscellaneous site improvements
• $3,000,000 – Kona International Airport, Hawai’i Island – Design funds for improvements at terminal building to enhance capacity, efficiency and security, including a centralized security check-in, baggage handling system, common-use passenger processing systems, flight information displays and other items
• $2,329,185 – Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawai’i Island – Construction funds for a new and relocated Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Station to meet FAA requirements
• $600,000 – Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawai’i Island – Design funds for re-roofing of the terminal buildings, installation of air conditioning for the restrooms, and various other miscellaneous terminal improvements
• $555,000 state funds and $2,700,000 federal grant – Kalaeloa Airport, O’ahu – Construction funds for the re-roofing of Hangar 110, including all clerestory windows to prevent leaks and meet all current building and fire codes

Other State Harbor Projects:

• $8,500,000 – Pier 2 Terminal, Kawaihae Harbor, Hawai’i Island – Construction funds for improvements including paving approximately 3.1 acres of unimproved land to provide additional cargo space, as well as various infrastructure improvements such as lighting, fire protection and drainage
• $2,000,000 – Hilo Harbor, Hawai’i Island – Additional construction funds for dredging improvements
• $1,964,996 state funds and $9,553,438 federal grant – Maritime Wireless Network System, statewide – Design and construction in conjunction with the Department of Defense to develop and implement a Maritime Wireless Network System (MWNS) to connect the security surveillance systems for all regulated ports in Hawai’i through the state and US Coast Guard microwave communications system for the purpose of improving public safety
• $1,085,000 – Honolulu, Hilo and Nawiliwili Harbors, statewide – Construction funds for installation of new bollards to minimize the movement of moored vessels at the piers and improve operational efficiencies and safety at the piers while reducing maintenance expenses
• $1,000,000 – Honolulu Harbor, O’ahu – Construction funds for installation of five new 100-ton bollards along Piers 19-21, and replacement of two existing bollards with new 80-ton bollards along Pier 19
• $874,925 state funds and $2,624,774 federal grant – Hilo, Kawaihae, Nawiliwili, and Port Allen Harbors, statewide – Design and construction funds for water-side surveillance and command information systems of commercial harbor entrances and piers
• $700,000 – Honolulu Harbor, O’ahu – Construction funds for replacement of approximately 700 linear feet of fire protection water main lines for Piers 52 and 53

So far, in 2012, the Governor has approved more than $423.8 million for CIP projects, including the funds from the above list.  The projects were selected for their potential to immediately stimulate the economy and generate job opportunities for residents.

*** Supporting information courtesy: Office of the Governor, State of Hawai’i.