Sunday, November 08, 2009
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WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...
Big Isle mayor revives Puna highway project
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 04, 2009
Question: What ever happened to the new highway proposed to run through the fast-growing lower Puna area south of Hilo?
Answer: Community criticism and a vaguely worded regional traffic plan appeared to put the Puna Makai Alternate Route in limbo when the concept was approved in 2005.
But Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi kept the concept alive last month with a request for $2 million for the project as part of a $487 million wish list for federal economic stimulus funds.
The Puna Makai road would serve an area expected to be home to 53,000 people by 2030. Only one highway now leads in and out of the area, and the uncertainty of the situation was shown in 2007 when lava flows temporarily appeared to be a possible threat to the highway.
The mayor's office said the federal $2 million would be matched with $500,000 already available for environmental and engineering studies. Those studies would take three to five years with federal money, and longer without it.
The 2005 traffic plan and a 2008 community plan show the Puna Makai road going from Hilo only to the boundary of the huge Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. Some residents there have opposed its continuation through the subdivision, complaining the road would split the community and force condemnation of numerous private parcels.
Because the location and scope of any continuation through Paradise Park are unknown, the county has no estimate of construction cost.
Question: What ever happened to the new highway proposed to run through the fast-growing lower Puna area south of Hilo?
Answer: Community criticism and a vaguely worded regional traffic plan appeared to put the Puna Makai Alternate Route in limbo when the concept was approved in 2005.
But Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi kept the concept alive last month with a request for $2 million for the project as part of a $487 million wish list for federal economic stimulus funds.
The Puna Makai road would serve an area expected to be home to 53,000 people by 2030. Only one highway now leads in and out of the area, and the uncertainty of the situation was shown in 2007 when lava flows temporarily appeared to be a possible threat to the highway.
The mayor's office said the federal $2 million would be matched with $500,000 already available for environmental and engineering studies. Those studies would take three to five years with federal money, and longer without it.
The 2005 traffic plan and a 2008 community plan show the Puna Makai road going from Hilo only to the boundary of the huge Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. Some residents there have opposed its continuation through the subdivision, complaining the road would split the community and force condemnation of numerous private parcels.
Because the location and scope of any continuation through Paradise Park are unknown, the county has no estimate of construction cost.
Today’s Edition
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