HONOLULU, Hawaii – Senator Gil Kahele wants to know how the state can speed up the last remaining segment on Saddle Road that is in need of improvement.
Just about the entire remainder of the cross-island road, renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Highway, has gotten a makeover, making the infamous roadway much safer for travelers.
The Hilo senator got to ask Department of Transportation officials about the last few miles on the East side of the road, which is still the twisting, dangerous Saddle Road of old.
This in NOT the last segment of the DKI Highway/ Saddle. The segment that is on the books and shovel ready in a flash is from the terminus on the Mamalahoa Highway to the Queen Kaahumanu. Commuters, prefer a quick zip down to the faster Q. Kaahumanu than driving the upper road (Mamalahoa, #19) past homes and neighborhoods and around cliff edges. The western segment will knock several minutes off the commute and make it much safer.
The plans are done. There remains an environmental impact study, a search for cultural locations, and buying the shovels. These things can be given their full due, yet be expedited (begun) and the shovel will be ready sooner than going through the eminent domaine process, if that process is given its full due.
People in Waikoloa will rejoice when that segment is in place, as it will take convoys of phenomenally heavy equipment and explosives off Waikoloa Road. It means no more explosives rolling through the Village. It means means people could walk across the road to the post office, possibly without having to carry and wave a little red flag, as now. It lets busses have bus stops where adults and children can be safe. It lets the County turn attention to actually improving Waikoloa Road, following the study they had done for ALL of us.
I suggest looking at ways to improve existing Hilo connectors with signage and simpler road maintenance/improvement projects that will benefit everyone. There is more than one way than forcing people to sell their property.
Meanwhile, the shovels are ready on the western connector.
Sorry about the essay. A hot button got pushed.