Good morning. I am facing having to drive into Waimea from Mud Lane, and my heart is sinking. I spent at least three hours waiting in traffic Wednesday, during two essential trips into town.
There has got to be a better way. Traffic was stopped from beyond the intersection of Lindsey Road and Mamalahoa Highway, in the center of Waimea, all the way out to Kalake Street on my second trip into town. It was at least as bad coming from the Honokaa direction. This is affecting a huge number of residents and businesses, and making daily life almost impossible.
It may be even more infuriating because the work being done does not seem like it will result in any particular benefit. On my way back out of town (I dallied until I could see that traffic was finally moving), I had to stop once, for less than 30 seconds, while someone made a left turn onto Puu Nani Drive. Having turn lanes along the route is going to result in minimal benefit. If you wanted to improve traffic flow at rush hour, you could insist that the brew pub be moved so that it is not so close to the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Kamamalu Street.
I don’t know why this traffic nightmare was not foreseen and provided for, and I question whether the people who made the decision to enter into this contract deserve their jobs and salaries, but I think it’s time to call this quits, and enter into a new contract for night work!
Judy Howard is a resident of Kamuela.