KAILUA (HawaiiNewsNow) - A project aimed at easing traffic has been causing gridlock in Kailua. And efforts to reduce the construction gridlock has led to another set of frustrations, this time for users of Kailua Beach Park.
The Kalapawai Roundabout project is now in Phase 8 of nine planned phases. And residents and park users say it’s the most disruptive and frustrating one yet.
As the project enters its third year, drivers have to navigate an array of road closures, detours and signs.
“The backed up traffic, the gridlock,” is the most frustrating thing, according to Lanikai resident Andy Doka. “That’s a bummer. But as you know, we’re all getting used to it. So you just gotta get used to it or get out.”
The city has banned on-street parking in Lanikai every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and detouring traffic through a section of Kailua Beach Park.
“We knew from a previous phase that we had to route all the cars coming out of that coastline through the beach park, through what a lot of Kailua residents know as ‘concessions,’” said Jon Nouchi, the city’s deputy transportation services director.
But to keep that traffic flowing, no parking is allowed in that area, leading to more frustration for park users.
“We have paddlers, we have kiters, we have stand up paddlers, we have recreational beach users. And with the parking not gone, it makes it really difficult to have access to this, which is a big part of why so many of us live here,” said Kailua resident Donnel Nunes.
“I’m not even clear how long this ‘no parking’ is going to go on,” said Malia Espinda, another Kailua resident.
“I like the roundabout. I like the idea of the roundabout. I hate how long it’s taking and I hate the fact that there’s no communication about it,” said Wainani Young Tomich, who lives nearby.
The city project does have its own website. And it’s not just the roundabout that crews are working on, but also raised crossings and a new drainage system.
Officials said unforeseen underground utilities did cause some delays, but the project overall is in the home stretch.
“We really wanted to get this Phase 8 done before the spring break time, before the visitors to Lanikai and Ka’ohao really pick up,” said Nouchi.
The entire project is set for completion in May.
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