Kaua’i County is on the verge of completing the first leg of a proposed 16-mile coastline bicycle-pedestrian path from Lihu’e to Anahola. Work is nearly completed on a 2.5-mile concrete path at Lydgate Park. The work also involves the construction
Kaua’i County is on the verge of completing the first leg of a proposed 16-mile coastline bicycle-pedestrian path from Lihu’e to Anahola.
Work is nearly completed on a 2.5-mile concrete path at Lydgate Park. The work also involves the construction of a comfort station and a maintenance building under a $3 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration.
When completed, the multi-phased coastline project will connect communities from Lihu’e to Anahola and provide for greater recreational opportunities for residents of Lihu’e and Kawaihau districts, among the largest population centers on the island.
The bulk of the work would be funded by the federal government. The county’s “soft match” of about $7.5 million would enable it to be eligible for $31 million in grants from the Federal Highway Administration.
The county’s share is linked to the state’s appraisal of $7 million for 67 acres at Kealia Beach and the Kealia Kai subdivision and $500,000 for volunteer work in the construction of the Kamalani Kai Bridge by Lydgate Park.
The appraisal was to determine how much the state and federal governments would accept as a soft match from the county for the federal grants, according to Doug Haigh, building superintendent with the Kaua’i County Public Works Department.
All of the appraised land was dedicated to the county by the Hughes family and the developer of the Kealia Kai subdivision.
Related to other phases of the 16-mile concrete pathway project, the county is in the final stages of publishing an environmental assessment with a “finding of significant impact” for a four-mile portion from Kapa’a to Kuna Bay, Haigh said.
Once the Federal Highway Administration makes a similar declaration, the county would be eligible for project funds, Haigh said.
The county would receive $5 million grant funds for fiscal year 2002-2003 and receive $2 million for fiscal year 2003 to 2004, he said.
Some of the funds could be used for condemnation to move the second phase of the project forward, Haigh said.
In other project phases:
- The county is moving ahead with securing a consultant for a two-mile portion from Kapa’a to Lydgate Park. The project would be constructed a cost of $2 million.
- Development of a path from Lydgate Park to Lihu’e. Parts of this phase would run through Hanama’ulu and parts of Lihu’e and could involve land dedications by private owners to the county or purchase of the land by the county.
- Development of a path from Kuna Bay to Anahola.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
