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Posted: Thursday, October 18th, 2012 9:17 AM HST

State details Puainako widening project

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

The long-delayed Puainako Street widening project now appears ready to proceed. Hundreds packed the Waiakea Intermediate School Cafeteria this week to hear details of the project, which involves the partial realignment and widening of Puainako Street from the east side of the Kilauea Avenue intersection to Komohana Street. SSFM engineer Austen Drake said the project will address some nagging issues. “Especially during school drop-off and pick-up hours, it can become pretty much gridlock from the schools down to Kinoole and Kilauea,” Drake said. “Another thing that needs to be accomplished with this project is to improve the vehicle and pedestrian safety on existing Puainako Street.” Improvements within the 1.5-mile corridor will include sidewalks and bicycle lanes, drainage structures, traffic signals, retaining walls, sound walls, raised and at-grade medians, and landscaping. The state will have to acquire a portion of 33 properties with this re-alignment, including three properties targeted for possible relocation. When finished, the project will complete the cross island Saddle Road, fulfilling its destiny as the starting point of Hawai`i’s east-west highway. Content for this story was provided by Big Island Video News.