HILO — Hawaii County will receive $19.5 million in federal funding to widen Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea.
The funds are passed through the state Department of Transportation and will cover 80 percent of the approximately $25 million project. The county is responsible for the rest.
County Public Works spokesman Barett Otani said work is anticipated to begin around March or April 2018 and finish in September 2019. The project could go out to bid in November.
“This is such an important project to improve the traffic flow and safety of the area, not only for vehicles, but for pedestrians and bicyclists as well,” Mayor Harry Kim said in a press release. “This would not have happened without the personal help of the state DOT’s Ed Sniffen and (Gov. David Ige).”
The project will stretch 2.8 miles from Mud Lane to Mana Road and involve adding left-turn lane pockets and drainage improvements. The road will be widened by 7.5 feet on each side.
To receive the federal funds, the county had to finish planning and design work by Aug. 14.
Kim was concerned an archaeological inventory survey was holding up the process, and he wrote state Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairwoman Suzanne Case on July 7 asking for assistance.
DLNR’s historic preservation division notified the county it completed its review July 18.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.