Every new driver on Kaua‘i has done it at least once: taking the infamous, unintentional “left turn” into the Kaua‘i Village shopping center while intending to head north. But all that could change as soon as summer 2005 with the
Every new driver on Kaua‘i has done it at least once: taking the infamous, unintentional “left turn” into the Kaua‘i Village shopping center while intending to head north.
But all that could change as soon as summer 2005 with the widening of the traffic junction fronting the Kaua‘i Village shopping center.
Developers of the Waipouli Beach Resort expect to spend nearly a million dollars on road improvements in the area, including widening the road and adding two turn lanes, one left, one right. It will make for two north-bound through lanes and two separate turn lanes.
Right now, the road splits, snarling traffic and often forcing unknowing visitors into the Kaua‘i Village.
The state Department of Transportation has approved conceptual plans for the project without objection and final plans are being drawn up now.
Other improvements to the area include a south-bound left turn lane, relocating the crosswalk from the north-side to the south-side of the intersection, adding sidewalks and a bike lane.
The state will synchronize the traffic signal system in the vicinity in an effort to optimize through-traffic flow and the Waipouli Beach Resort developers will be putting all overhead utility lines and poles underground.
According to the DOT’s level of service ranking system, with runs A through F, the totality of improvements will bring the level of service for north-bound traffic from E to C. Service during peak hours will go from F to C.
Indeed, the whole area could become downright traffic and pedestrian friendly. The $100-million, 196-unit luxury beachfront residential condominium project in Waipouli could be open for business as soon as late 2005 or early 2006. When it does, its restaurant and water slide will draw hundreds of people and a lot more traffic to the area. That’s good news for area businesses, who stand to profit from the increase in foot traffic and safer, smoother traffic.
In the past, area businesses expressed concern that the road widening could cost them land. But project engineers insist that only land fronting the Waipouli Beach Resort will be used for the expansion.
“We acknowledge that there were concerns by residents in the past with regard to the widening of Kuhio Highway fronting their properties,” wrote Pete Pascua to Steven Kyono of Kaua‘i DOT.
Pascua is a project traffic engineer with Wilson Okamoto & Associates, Inc., the Honolulu-based company that drew up the conceptual plan. The project “should not impact the properties located further north or south of the project.”
