Kuakini Highway lane closure Saturday

The northbound lane of Kuakini Highway will be closed Saturday while crews construct a left-turn lane fronting the University of the Nations in Kailua-Kona.

The closure will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Walua Road and the school, said Project Manager Jason Hulce with Bolton Inc. An electronic message board has also been posted south of Walua Road to inform motorists of the closure.

Crews will be cold planing and paving Saturday to establish the new left-turn lane for southbound vehicles to access the school’s campus, Hulce said.

Pieter Heres, who heads University of the Nations Campus Development, said the left-turn lane is being funded by the school at a cost of $156,000 and is a requirement to secure a certificate of occupancy from Hawaii County for its 30,000-square-foot kitchen and cafeteria. The facility is expected to be complete in August.

He added, “it’s for the safety of vehicular traffic as we are expanding and growing here at the University of the Nations.”

Off-duty police officers will be stationed on each side of the work to assist with directing traffic. The southbound lane will remain open during the work, Hulce said.

Northbound motorists are advised to use an alternative route during the work, such as making a left from Kuakini Highway onto Walua Road and continuing through the village area, Hulce said.

On Monday, Hulce said, crews will be working but lane closures will not be required. Instead, he explained, lanes will be shifted around crews who will be striping the roadway.