Ongoing roadwork and a gas line relocation has prompted lane closures on Kapi‘olani Boulevard near the Hawai‘i Convention Center this week — and the next few.
If that's part of your commute, here's what you should know:
— The eastbound right and middle lanes of Kapi‘olani Boulevard, from Atkinson Drive to Hau‘oli Street, will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for approximately three weeks. The closures began Monday, March 24.
This will allow Hawai‘i Gas to relocate a gas line ahead of an upcoming paving project from the city's Department of Design and Construction, a Friday announcement from the City and County of Honolulu noted.
— The right and middle westbound lanes between McCully Street and Kalākaua Avenue also will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 24 to March 28 "to facilitate concrete jacketing of a shallow drain line."
— The westbound right lane of Kapi‘olani Boulevard, from Hau‘oli Street to Kalākaua Avenue, will be closed 24/7 from Tuesday, March 25, through Friday, March 28, to allow new concrete pavement to cure.
— Paving in eastbound lanes from Hau‘oli Street to University Avenue are expected to be finished in the next two weeks, weather permitting, and paving between McCully Street and Atkinson Drive will continue in both directions through May.
The city says these temporary lane closures are "expected to have a significant impact on traffic flow in the area, and drivers are strongly advised to use alternate routes."
But if you have to travel along Kapi‘olani Boulevard, the city says drivers should "proceed with caution and expect lengthy delays in areas near and around work zones."
A Rehabilitation of Streets project along the thoroughfare is being completed in two phases — the first is Unit 89A, which spans Kapi‘olani Boulevard from Harding Avenue to Atkinson Drive. The second is Unit 89B, which continue from from Atkinson Drive to Ward Avenue.
The first phase of roadwork, which began more than a year ago, is set to be finished this summer, city officials recently told Aloha State Daily. Work on the second phase had not yet started as of earlier this month.
More information about that project can be found online here.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
