Nearly 20 community members attended a meeting Thursday evening presented by the county Public Works Division at Waikoloa Elementary School to learn the details of the planned paving of the road that transverses their village from Mamalahoa Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
Director Steve Pause said the $26 million repavement/rehabilitation project will be for the next generation.
He said the previous road has lasted 50 years, and the new paving project will last at least that long.
The first phase of the project is slated to begin at Mamalahoa Highway extending to Paniolo Drive beginning May 4. Subsequent work would consist of paving from below Paniolo Drive to Queen Kaahumanu Highway with the intersection at the village to subsequently becoming a roundabout.
Goodfellow Bros, who has been awarded the paving contract expects the project to take one full year.
The rehabilitation will consist of taking out 2 .5 inches of existing pavement and replacing it with 4.5 inches of new pavement.
“This will be for the next generation.” said Steve Pause, Director of Public Works.
Project engineer Allan Simeon said the $26 million price tag is being funded 80% by the federal government and 20% by the county.
He stressed the project is just a “take out and put back” endeavor. There will not be any improvements made to the road.
Pavement torn up will be repurposed for shoulder improvement, and the entirety of Waikolaoa Road will be 45 feet, shoulder to shoulder.
The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Paniolo has been a point of contention in the community, however Pause said DPW is still working on the original design, although negotiations are still underway with a landowner who is going through bankruptcy and an Environmental Assessment needs to be complete until final drafts for the intersection can be completed.
Public Works Public Information Officer Sherise Kanae-Kane said a QR code will be issued to residents to inform them of upcoming work on the road and a way to contact the county of concerns or questions about the rehabilitation project.
Residents are also encouraged to visit the department’s Facebook page for updates and more information.