Kuhio Highway speed reduction starts Monday

LIHU‘E — The speed limit along Kuhio Highway in Wailua, between the Kaua‘i Hilton and Wailua River, will officially be lowered to 40 mph from 50 mph on Monday.

But police will give motorists about a week to slow down before full-on enforcement of the new speed limit takes place, Kaua‘i Police Department Patrol Services Bureau acting Capt. Mark Scribner said.

The one-week “education” campaign will likely include warnings rather than tickets, with the following week inaugurating a period of “heavier enforcement,” he said.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., one of thousands of Kauaians who commute regularly over the section of highway known as “blood alley” because of the deadly and serious accidents that have occurred there over the years, encouraged his fellow drivers to just slow down.

“This is an effort that can save lives. It’s worth it to all of us to slow down and take a few more minutes to get where we are going rather than risk more tragedy on this dangerous stretch of highway,” he said.

Since 2000, there have been 10 fatal crashes on the three-mile stretch of Kuhio Highway roughly from the Kaua‘i Hilton entrance to Wailua Beach, eight of which involved vehicles crossing the center line of the highway.

To help aid with the speed transition, state Department of Transportation Highways Division crews will be installing electronic message boards, said Jiro Sumada, DOT-H deputy director, in an earlier press release.

Along with reducing the posted speed limit, the DOT is moving forward with other safety improvements including: constructing police pull-out areas to aid with additional enforcement efforts; installing “smart signs,” which will give motorists real-time feedback of their speed as well as record speed data; and installing additional signs.

• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.