Kūhiō Highway Short-Term Improvements Project to Start Next Month

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), Highways Division, announced construction for the Kūhiō Highway Short-Term Improvements project will begin March 1.

With a price tag of $17 million, the project is designed to reduce traffic congestion on the highway through Kapa‘a-Wailua corridor by adding a southbound lane between the Temporary Kapa‘a Bypass Road entrance and Kuamo‘o Road.

“This has truly been a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for residents and business owners,” said Gov. David Ige. “I truly appreciate the partnership that has gone into addressing the needs of the community, mitigation of cultural impacts, and wildlife concerns as we prepared this much-needed project.”

Additional improvements will increase safety for all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists, by installing guardrails, sidewalks, and curb ramps, as well as updating pavement markings and landscaping.

The Kūhiō Highway Short-Term Improvements project was made possible through the support of the Kaua‘i legislative delegation, County of Kaua‘i’s Departments of Planning, Public Works and their Transportation Agency, Kauai PATH, the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association, Kapa‘a Business Association, Kapa‘a High School, Kapa‘a Middle School, and the Kaua‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau.

The project limits extend between mile markers 5.9 and 6.6 on Kūhiō Highway, near the Wailua River to the Coconut Marketplace Shopping Center. Eighty percent of the project is funded through federal dollars and the remainder from state funds.

A daily average of 32,500 vehicles use this stretch of Kūhiō Highway. The anticipated completion date of construction is Spring 2023.