LIHUE — The cars and trucks rumbled by on both Kaumualii Highway and Nawiliwili Road, heedless of the activity taking place in the parking lot of the Kukui Grove Center. “The motorists on the road don’t care who owns the
LIHUE — The cars and trucks rumbled by on both Kaumualii Highway and Nawiliwili Road, heedless of the activity taking place in the parking lot of the Kukui Grove Center.
“The motorists on the road don’t care who owns the roads,” said Ed Sniffen, the state’s Department of Transportation deputy director on Tuesday morning. “They just want to get to their destinations safely and in a timely manner. Nawiliwili Road definitely needs repairs.”
But groundbreaking for the Nawiliwili Road improvements took place Tuesday in the parking lot of the Kukui Grove Center, where improvements were underway, regardless if shoppers knew about the activity taking place.
“Partnerships like the one between the state, county and private sector are very important in getting projects like this accomplished,” Sniffen said. “This is a small, but important project, which pushes forward the administration’s initiative of putting more projects on the ground faster for people to enjoy.”
The project, which will start in May, will cover the roadway from the Kaumualii Highway junction to Kanani Street, located near the Puakea Golf Course. Work is expected to take between six to eight months.
Budgeted at $10.25 million, the project calls for the replacement of the existing asphaltic concrete pavement with Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, which will provide a more durable, longer-lasting surface. The work will also add curbing, gutters, and sidewalks along with drainage improvements.
The project is federally funded with $8.2 million, and the state funding the remaining $2.05 million.
