Today is the deadline for public input on whether or not it is a good idea for Kapa’a area business leaders to continue pushing for a bit of traffic relief. Extending Pouli Road (which ends at Kuhio Highway in Waipouli,
Today is the deadline for public input on whether or not it is a good idea for Kapa’a area business leaders to continue pushing for a bit of traffic relief.
Extending Pouli Road (which ends at Kuhio Highway in Waipouli, between the Waipouli Town Center (Foodland, McDonald’s, etc.) to link up with the existing Kapa’a bypass road would allow motorists to get to the shopping center without having to go onto the highway, Kapaa Business Association leaders said.
An online survey, at www.kbakauai.org, takes just a few minutes to complete, and has been put together to gauge public opinion on whether or not KBA leaders should continue lobbying for the improvement, which might take around four years to complete.
The data will be shared with leaders of the state Department of Transportation Highways Division, County of Kaua’i, Wailua/Kapa’a Traffic Coalition, KBA members, and other interested parties.
Especially with the extended bypass road, from ‘Olohena Road to Kuhio Highway behind Kapa’a New Park, the Pouli Road feeder route becomes more important for giving motorists choices in navigating through congested Kapa’a, Waipouli and Wailua, KBA leaders say on the Web site.
“We believe a feeder road, from the bypass directly to shopping centers should become an integral and necessary part of the bypass system, taking cars off of Kuhio Highway,” according to the Web site.
“The proposed road would also serve as a relief route in the event of a natural disaster.
“The feeder road will allow the ever-increasing number of residents in the (Wailua) Homesteads, Kapahi, north Kapa’a & the North Shore (via the upcoming bypass extension) to easily access shopping without suffering through, and exacerbating, the traffic congestion in Kapa’a,” the information before the survey says.
County Planning Department officials estimate that over 3,200 households (11,200 residents) in the northern Kapa’a area alone could access shopping without adding congestion to the Kapa’a section of Kuhio Highway.
Also under consideration is a second-phase extension from the bypass to the Wailua Houselots, which would allow residents in that area to also access shopping areas without getting on the highway, and a link between Kaua’i Village shopping center and the bypass over and along the adjacent canal.
KBA officials have suggested to state DOT-Highways Division and county officials that a feeder road be constructed to connect the bypass to Waipouli Town Center and Kaua’i Village via Pouli Road.
