The Kapa‘a Bypass temporary extension. The permanent Kapa‘a Bypass. Don’t get them confused, says Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaui, Niihau. One will take decades to happen. The former, however, could be done this time next year. This session, the Legislature passed
The Kapa‘a Bypass temporary extension. The permanent Kapa‘a Bypass. Don’t get them confused, says Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaui, Niihau.
One will take decades to happen. The former, however, could be done this time next year. This session, the Legislature passed nearly $3.5 million in construction funds for the extension of the Kapa‘a Temporary Bypass road.
No one’s sure how much it’ll affect traffic through the area, but it couldn’t hurt, most agree. The Bypass seeks to mitigate the nighmarish traffic that, on any given day — and typically from morning to evening — runs along Kuhio Highway through Kapa‘a.
“It’s not the ultimate answer, but it’s a good start,” said Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i, Niihau. Bids are out, and a contract for the work is expected soon. That means that the project could start by the Fall.
But the Bypass will only be a one-way, one-lane paved rendering of an already existing cane road that runs from Olohena Road along the mauka-side of the Kapa‘a Ball Park.
So it’ll help folks headed to Lihue, perhaps, but not the other way around.
Also, a “round about” is planned for the conjunction area near the park. The four-way conjunction of Olohena Road, the Alternate Route, the Bypass and
one local side-street, means that driving in the area could be very tricky.
Hence, the need for a round about, says Steve Kyono, the Department of Transportation’s Kaua‘i engineer.
“I think it’ll work smoothly, and is a better solution to the area than stop signs or traffic lights,” he said. Round abouts are unique concepts for Kaua‘i, but are already used with some success in parts of Oahu.
The next few steps, according to Hooser, is to also accelerate the “Pouli Road Connector” project, press for a long term bypass preferred route determination, and to develop an emergency plan to utilize former sugar cane roads that parallel the Hanamaulu to Wailua corrider.
Rumors swirled years before that Kapa‘a businesses were against any bypass road that would direct traffic away from their businesses — and cash registers. Is that still the case?
“Years and years ago, I know there was concern in the business community that the Bypass would hurt business,” Hooser recalled. “I think most businesses realize that the traffic congestion right now is hurting business.” Indeed, some folks are opting to stay home altogether, or even wait to shop outside the area.
“Opening of the temporary bypass is only going to help business,” Hooser said.
