UPDATE 6/18/13)  Here’s the word from DPW on our inquiry: according to Ray Oshiro, “we are currently replacing the aged and deteriorated wooden barricades and the concrete barriers with guardrails.  We will be installing an access gate for our maintenance purposes.  We will be doing the same on the north end at Kulanihakoi.  Our work is not complete as we still need to install the posts and gates. There will be an direct pass-thru instead of  “squeezing -thru” the barriers.  The barriers have always been set up in this  fashion because of complaints of dirt bikes and other off road vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed through this area. Resident (sic) have often complained about the noise and dust. Since we did the placement there has been no complaints of speeders. The off-set opening was never more than 4′ and not less than 3′,  although no type of traffic should be utilizing this as an  access. We closed this section off to all traffic several years ago, someone complained it being blocked off and we were told to allow access.”  Our comment is bicycle and walkers use this daily as a somewhat reasonable alternative going N-S, but sure hope it can be made more pleasant and easier to use. Even just elongating the paved strip extending south from Kulanihakoi to this junction would really help at a minimal cost. And someday a greenway.

We see Director David Goode’s Department of Public Works (DPW) highways team construction at the northern terminus of Liloa at Waipuilani yesterday (6/13/13). This is the point where the beautiful greenway/bike path abruptly ends and crossing Waipuilani and squeezing through the Jersey barriers allows continuing biking or walking on rocky dirt path northward. KCA has high hopes someday the greenway will continue through this corridor. But why did DPW install this permanent metal guardrail on each side leaving the movable concrete barriers in place on the center? Could this be a step toward opening up a portion of this corridor? Is this for an escape route for  the dead end streets ending at this corridor? KCA is asking questions and hopes to soon have answers.

 

 

 


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