Kam Highway
Realignment Project
The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation proposes 4 current plans for realigning Kamehameha Highway for the purposes of pedestrian safety, while also addressing traffic and erosion problems.
*The statutory 30-day comment period for the project’s Environmental Assessment will end on September 22, 2021.
The 4 Current Plans
Developed by HDOT for consideration (published in March 2021)
1.
No Build
Do Nothing
Will not solve the turtle harassment, traffic, or erosion problems.
Parking with one-way entrance and exit
Guardrails
Crosswalks
No tour buses and vans
“After a group of North Shore residents, activists, and surfers sued HDOT over the placement of barriers along the mauka side of Kamehameha Highway in 2014, a settlement was reached between the City and County of Honolulu (City), HDOT, and the litigants.”
Will not solve the turtle harassment or erosion problems.
Installing crosswalks may not solve the traffic problem because cars will be required to stop for every pedestrian.
3.
TSM
Permanent guardrails to block cars from parking
May help the turtle harassment problem due to less visitors being able to park.
Will solve the traffic problem as it did with the installation of barriers in 2013.
Will not solve the erosion problems.
Move Kamehameha Highway 80 feet inland
Informal parking on the makai side
Use old road for bicycles and pedestrians
May solve the turtle harassment problem IF a turtle viewing platform is added on the old road like in California for the seals and sea lions.
Will solve the traffic problem because it eliminates the need for pedestrians to cross the highway.
Will temporarily solve the erosion of the highway problem.
The only option that will solve HDOT’s primary objective- pedestrian safety.
May disturb the turtles during the 2 year construction period with noise and nighttime lights. Draft EA considered this impact on wildlife “less than significant.”
Possibility of encountering “historic and archeological resources.”
Parking will be inaccessible during the 2 year construction period.
Will cost the state an estimated $12 Million.
Environmental
Assessment
Published August 23, 2021
The Draft Environmental Assessment for the Kamehameha Highway Pedestrian Safety Project provides more details on all four realignment alternatives as well as a full assessment of possible impacts of each on the environment, traffic, etc.
The statutory 30-day comment period will end on September 22, 2021.
If you would like to submit comments, please send them to HDOT:
Brian.Tyau@hawaii.gov
