Federal, State and County officials marked completion of another improved section of the Saddle Road on Tuesday. The new segment opened to traffic is a seven mile stretch between the 34 and 42 mile markers. U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, who has
championed the project since it inception said he’ll retire eventually, but not before the improvements are completed.
“We will have a Saddle Road. We’re going to have it because it is the product of a partnership,” Inouye said. “Not just the Defense Department, but the whole administration of the federal government. The state government is also involved and so is the county government.”
Deputy State Transportation Director Jiro Sumada said what makes the road important is the people who use it.
“The main this is the people who use our roadways. “Keeping that link so that instead of spending two and a half hours driving from Hilo to Kona, they can spend time with their families or getting work done,” Sumada said. “That’s the important part.”
To date, 23 miles or about half of Route 200 have been graded, widened and straightened. Work on the next segment between the 11 and 19 mile markers is expected to begin shortly and be completed in the fall of 2011.
(Copyright 2009 New West Broadcasting - KPUA.net)
