The extension of Paniolo Avenue all the way to Queen Kaahumanu Highway could become reality sooner than the much-vaunted extension of Saddle Road, but don’t hold your breath — neither will happen overnight.
The two proposed extensions serve different purposes, said Kohala Councilman Tim Richards.
The Paniolo extension would improve connectivity for Waikoloa Village, while the extension of Saddle Road, also known as Daniel K. Inouye Highway, would improve connectivity between East and West Hawaii, Richards said.
“This has been talked about for maybe six months now as a concept. There is some interest but there’s nothing definitive,” Richards said about Paniolo. “There’s a concept out there; there’s a possibility, there’s a very strong possibility. … There is something we’re trying to craft but we’re not quite across the finish line yet.”
The prospect of new roads has excited residents for months, but it was put into words publicly by Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development Assistant Housing Administrator Harry Yada, at an Aug. 12 Land Board meeting. Yada was discussing plans to lease state land near the Kamakoa Nui Workforce Housing Project for a library.
“There are discussions going on about extending Paniolo Avenue all the way to Queen K,” Yada said. “I don’t know what the specific timetable is; I just know that discussions have been ongoing.”
County Planning Director Zendo Kern said the county is committed to a secondary route into Waikoloa Village, and the recent fires have highlighted the need for additional access, which he said the county is “actively pursuing.”
“(We) have been in various conversations for some time as to how we might be able to achieve that desired outcome in a way that works for the community, the county, and for any private landowners who may need to be involved,” Kern said Wednesday. “There are currently no agreements or partnerships in place, although we do have some interested parties. The community will be informed of any progress made, as well as, when a way forward is established and agreed upon. At this time, we’d like to mahalo the Waikoloa community for their patience as we look to better access for them and their families.”
Asked to speculate on which of the two projects, Paniolo Avenue or Saddle Road, would become a reality first, Richards hazarded that it would be Paniolo. The Saddle Road extension isn’t off the table, he said, but big federal projects invariably take longer.
“We’re not talking about an insignificant expenditure,” Richards said.
The Saddle Road extension was earlier estimated to cost about $80 million, a figure that has likely increased to $110 million to $120 million, due to inflation and the cost of materials and labor. The cross-island route would be extended from its current terminus at Mamalahoa Highway near the South Kohala-North Kona boundary to Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
The approximately 10.5-mile extension was expected to take about two years to construct once work is underway, but the state put the project on hold last year.
Richards said he talked to the state Department of Transportation about Saddle Road a couple of months ago and he remains optimistic.
“My understanding is, nothing is insurmountable,” he said. “It’s definitely on the table.”
Resurfacing of Waikoloa Road is moving along, however, Richards said. The county aims to ink a contract by the end of September and start resurfacing by the end of the year.
The project would resurface about 8 miles of roadway, at an estimated cost of $42 million. The state will kick in 80% using federal money, and the county will contribute the remaining 20% in matching funds.
Waikoloa Road is heavily traveled by cross-island commuters, particularly those heading to the South Kohala resort area via Saddle Road. In addition, it’s the main route for truckers heading cross island back from West Hawaii, unless they are coming from Waimea or head mauka out of Kona via Mamalahoa directly to Saddle Road. Further, with the county trucking the trash now, there are even more large vehicles coming down that roadway. Until Saddle Road is extended to Queen Kaahumanu Highway from its current terminus at Mamalahoa Highway, Waikoloa Road will remain a heavily traveled route.