| December 27, 2013 Traffic Advisory: Lane closures for Honolulu rail transit project The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) would like to inform drivers about lane closures next week related to design and construction work for the Honolulu rail transit project. Motorists are advised that work along the 20-mile rail route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center will require lane closures during non-peak traffic hours. For the safety of both the work crews and motorists, the public is advised to proceed with caution through these areas. Drivers should anticipate possible traffic delays or use alternate routes during work hours, and provide a safe distance between their vehicles and workers and equipment: West Oahu/Farrington Highway Section (East Kapolei to Waipahu) Farrington Highway in Ewa between Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) and Old Fort Weaver Road is closed in both directions until April of next year for utility relocation and column work for the elevated rail guideway. The 24/7 road closure allows work crews to safely relocate major utility lines along a narrow two-lane stretch of Farrington Highway, just west of the Kahi Mohala Behavioral Center. Following the utility relocation work, project contractor Kiewit will conduct shaft and column work as part of the planned rail guideway near that section of highway. Drivers traveling between East Kapolei and the Ewa/Waipahu region will still be able to use either the H-1 Freeway on the north end of Kualakai Parkway, or Kapolei Parkway on the south end. Motorists who routinely use Farrington Highway in Ewa should provide themselves extra time for their commute. The Kamehameha Highway southbound ramp onto Farrington Highway in Waipahu will be closed for streetlight relocation work from 8 p.m. Thursday, January 2 until 4 a.m. the following morning. The inside lanes of Farrington Highway in both directions fronting Waipahu High School near Kahualii Street will be closed from Sunday, December 29, to Thursday, January 2 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. No work is scheduled for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1. The westbound lanes of Farrington Highway in Waipahu between Leoku and Leokane streets will be closed from Sunday, December 29 to Thursday, January 2 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for utility relocation work. No work is scheduled for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1. The inside lanes of Farrington Highway in Ewa just west of the Kunia Road overpass will be closed from Sunday, December 29 to Thursday, January 2 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for utility relocation work. No work is scheduled for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1. Kamehameha Highway Section (Pearl City to Aloha Stadium) The inside eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City between Kuleana Road and the HECO-Waiau power plant has been reopened to motorists. The lane had been previously closed for test shaft work. - U-turns or left turns from the westbound direction of Kamehameha Highway into the Diamond Head-side entrance of the HECO Waiau power plant will be restricted. Drivers heading westbound on Kamehameha Highway can still turn left onto Puu Poni Street.
The inside eastbound lane of Kamehameha Highway between Hekaha and Kanuku streets and the eastbound left-turn lane at the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Kanuku Street will be closed 24 hours a day, seven days a week until mid-March as part of drill shaft test work: - One westbound lane of Kamehameha Highway will be closed during the day from Monday, December 30 to Friday, January 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- No work is scheduled for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1.
- Motorists are asked to drive carefully through the area and be aware of shifting traffic lanes as part of restriped lanes.
Airport Section (Aloha Stadium to Kalihi) No weekly lane closures are scheduled along the airport section of the rail alignment. City Center Section (Kalihi to Ala Moana Center) Lane closures will take place in Kalihi at the following location on Monday, Thursday and Friday (December 30 and January 2 and 3) between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: - Center eastbound lane of Kaaahi Street between Dillingham Boulevard and Kaaahi Place
Lane closures will take place in Kakaako at the following locations on Monday, Thursday and Friday (December 30 and January 2 and 3) between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: - Eastbound parking lane of Halekauwila Street between Punchbowl Street and Keawe Street
- Westbound parking lane of Halekauwila Street between Keawe Street and South Street
- No work is scheduled for New Year's Eve, Tuesday, December 31 and New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1.
Lane closures will take place in Kaka'ako at the following location from Monday, December 30 to Friday, January 3 between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for soil testing: - Right eastbound lane of Halekauwila Street between Cooke Street and Kamani Street. A contra-flow lane will be implemented in the westbound direction of Halekauwila Street.
- No work is scheduled for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1.
For updates on work days and times, visit the project website at http://www.honolulutransit.org/ or contact our hotline at 566-2299. -END- Media Contact: Scott Ishikawa. (808) 768-6172. cell: (808) 227-2350. | 
