Palani Road will be closed between Palihiolo and Kealaka’a streets in North Kona starting February 2 at 8:30 a.m. Traffic will be re-routed onto the new detour road.

The detour will allow installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Palani Road at Palihiolo Street (one of two entrances into Lili`uokalani Subdivision) and the realignment of Kealaka`a Street at Palani Road.

Traffic will be diverted for 1,400-feet on the new detour road before merging back onto the existing Palani Road. The detour will be in effect until this Summer.

During road construction, Palihiolo Road will be closed to through traffic. Queen Liliuokalani residents are asked to use Konalani Street.

A traffic signal and a pedestrian crosswalk will be installed on the new detour road where it intersects with Kealaka’a. A pedestrian walkway from the pedestrian overpass will connect to the sidewalk fronting Kealakehe Elementary School.

Improvements along Palani Road will alter the flow of traffic at the current intersection of Palani and Kealaka`a Street. Presently motorists using Kealaka`a can turn right or left onto Palani Road, and motorists heading mauka on Palani Road can turn left onto Kealaka`a. When the construction is completed, only motorists heading makai on Palani Road will be able to make right turns at this intersection.

On a nearby project, County of Hawaii completed construction on their portion of the La`i`opua connector road last year. The Dept. of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) estimates completion of their section in 2009. Inquires should be directed to DHHL at (808) 620.9500

The La`i`opua connector is between Kealakehe and the Villages at La`i`opua and when completed, will provide motorists a new mauka-makai access.

The new road will stretch approximately 3,800 feet from Keanalehu Drive in the Villages of La`i`opua, mauka on Manawale`a Street to connect with Kealaka`a Street in the Kealakehe housing area.