Kona KTSC Weblog

Letter to Mayor Kenoi dated March 1, 2010

During the February 11, 2010 KTSC meeting, the continuing traffic congestion on Highway 11 was discussed. 

There is no doubt that there will continue to be considerable legal and logistical delays before construction of the southern portion of the Mamalahoa Bypass Highway is completed.

It is clear that the efforts made by the County Administration to provide partial access to the Mamalahoa Bypass Highway are a successful contribution to alleviating traffic congestion through Kona districts during the limited hours and days the northern portion of the Mamalahoa Bypass Highway is now available.  In addition, the County has invested $5.5 Million dollars in County taxpayer funds to make long and short-term safety improvements to support opening the northern portion of the Mamalahoa Bypass Highway.

Highway 11 is the only North/South route available through the Kona districts.  The long awaited Mamalahoa Bypass Highway will eventually be completed and opened for public use.  It is a reasonable operating procedure to incrementally open portions of a road project as each portion is completed.  The additional connectivity through Haleki’i Street serves the public interest and should be available continuously at this time.  

The Kona Traffic Safety Committee supports the use of the northern portion of the Mamalahoa Bypass Highway without further restrictions on a 24/7 basis.  Please provide information about when the access restrictions on the northern portion of the Mamalahoa Bypass Highway will be ended or what it will take to get the access restrictions removed.

cc: Kelly Greenwell, North Kona District; Brenda Ford, South Kona District; Guy Enriques, South Kona District; Warren H.W. Lee, P.E., DPW Director