Why did the pedestrian cross the road? Because a newly opened bridge in Kaka‘ako makes it easier and safer to do so.
The $17.8 million elevated walkway, located on Ala Moana Boulevard between Ward Avenue and Kamake‘e Street, opened Thursday, a little more than three years after construction on it started.
It spans six lanes of traffic, more easily and safely connecting Kaka‘ako to Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin, the state Department of Transportation said in a May 22 announcement.
When construction started in May 2022, the DOT gave an estimated completion date of October 2023.
A department spokesperson told Aloha State Daily in an email Friday that unforeseen site conditions, mainly on the makai side of the street, led to a revised completion schedule.
These challenges included a communications line that was in a different location from as-built plans and reinforcing an old box culvert not in initial plans, and others, they said. A concrete shortage in 2022 also affected the time frame.
DOT Director Ed Sniffen said in the announcement Thursday that the bridge has been "eagerly anticipated by many."
"Our partners in this project have done a fantastic job of building a walkway that will not only serve as a pedestrian and bike safety measure but as an aesthetic addition to the corridor."
The spokesperson said the pedestrian bridge bridge reduces the potential of "vehicle-pedestrian conflict" for those crossing the busy roadway to reach Ala Moana Beach Park and Kewalo Basin
"One of HDOT's goals recently has been to improve pedestrian safety, especially on roads more than six lanes wide," the spokesperson said, noting that a pedestrian bridge can reduce the number of people using the street crosswalks and therefore the potential for vehicle-pedestrian collisions.
That stretch of Ala Moana Boulevard sees an average of about 49,000 vehicles per day, according to traffic counts from the DOT, which can be found here. An estimated 2,100 pedestrians and bicyclists are expected to use the walkway daily, the DOT said.
According to the DOT, the project was funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD, discretionary grant program and state highway funds — 80% of which was covered by federal funding and 20%, or about $4 million, was covered by the state — with other contributions from Victoria Ward Limited for land, design and environmental fees.
The bridge connects to Ward Village's Victoria Ward Park Makai, which opened earlier this year. It's the first phase of the park named in honor of Victoria Ward, born in 1846. Ward Village is Howard Hughes' 60-acre master-planned community located between Downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī.
"Creating a walkable, connected neighborhood is central to our vision for Ward Village, which is why the new elevated walkway is such a meaningful addition," Ward Village said in a statement emailed to Aloha State Daily Friday. "In partnership with the state DOT and the Federal Highway Administration, the project enhances safe, direct access from mauka to makai, linking residents and visitors to nearby parks, open spaces and the waterfront. We look forward to expanding the neighborhood experience with upcoming improvements to Victoria Ward Park and other public spaces next year."
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
