The Hawaii County Department of Public Works is proposing widening the mauka shoulder along Alii Drive in the Kailua Village area.
The project would widen 350 feet of Alii Drive to provide a consistent 5-foot shoulder between the Kona Islander Inn and Kona Alii Condominium, according to a draft environmental assessment released today.
The work is needed to improve pedestrian safety on the busy roadway, according to the county. Currently, pedestrians walk in an area that provides inadequate separation from vehicles.
In order to widen the shoulder, the county will remove existing low walls and vegetation, grade and pave the new shoulder area, build a new mortared lava rock wall at the mauka edge of the shoulder, and replace signs, utility boxes, crosswalks and the likes that have to be temporarily removed.
All coconut trees fronting the Kona Islander Inn will remain and ornamental palm trees will be replanted fronting the Kona Alii Condominium building.
Construction will involve the closure of one lane during daytime construction hours and is expected to last approximately three month, according to the county.
Travel lanes will be repaved but no travel lane widening will occur, according to the county.
Best management practices will ensure that construction does not affect the water quality of Kailua and Oneo bays. The site is already completely developed and no significant biological, archaeological or cultural resources are present.