Photography by Baron Sekiya and story by Karin Stanton  | Hawaii 24/7

Ron Terry talks about the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Saddle Road west alignment at Aunty Sally's Luau Hale in Hilo Wednesday (Dec 9).

The plan to build a new western end of Saddle Road met with overwhelming approval at community meetings this week in Hilo and Kona.

The vast majority of those who testified were in favor of pushing ahead with the plan to move the intersection of Highways 190 and 200 about 4 miles to the south.

That section of Saddle Road currently is in rough shape, with vehicles often straddling both lanes to avoid ragged shoulders, and has several one lane bridges with poor sight lines.

The joint improvement project – partners include the county and state, the state and federal highway divisions and the U.S. Army – began 20 years and likely will not be complete for another five.

Several dozen residents, at meetings in Hilo and Kona, urged officials to keep pushing to modernize the 47-mile stretch of road that shoots between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.

Once complete the new route will shave about 20 minutes drive time off a Hilo-Kona commute. A Hilo-Waimea journey, however, may take a little longer.

The new alignment takes the road south of Waikii and would come out on Mamalahoa Highway about 3 miles south of the Waikoloa junction.

The existing road runs past Waikii to the north and joins Mamalahoa several miles north of the junction.

Consultant Reggie David, left, talks to Cory Harden, of the Sierra Club, about wildlife in the Saddle Road project area.

Around Keamuku

When the Army bought the 23,000-acre Keamuku parcel in 2006, project officials looked to run along the southern boundary of the land, rather than through it.

Dave Gedeon, project manager with the Central Federal Highways Division, said moving the road triggered a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, which covered social, economic and environmental impacts.

The SEIS and design considerations took into account historical sites, natural resources, native flora and fauna, and avoiding the steepest grades. Other issues included wildlife, drainage, unexploded ordnance and depleted uranium.

Before construction begins, consultants will do another extensive sweep of the area.

The highway will clock in at 10.3 miles, include scenic points and possibly an underpass for military traffic. Lanes would be 12 feet wide, with 8-foot shoulders. Speed limit 55 mph.

The county has been maintaining the road since 1957, but as each new section is opened the state is taking ownership and maintenance responsibility.

An artist's rendering of the Saddle Road west alignment looking east with a climbing lane and 55 mph speed limit.

Comments

None of the 15 people who testified at Thursday’s meeting in Kona were against the project.

Kona Rep. Denny Coffman said has had no negative feedback from his 15,000 constituents on Saddle Road.

Several said they welcome a safer road, as well a quicker cross-island commute.

Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce president Vivian Landrum said the road will have a beneficial economic impact and promotes a ‘one island’ feeling.

Kailua-Kona resident James Boyle said he and his wife typically avoid Saddle Road, but chose that route for a recent Hilo trip.

“The first part of the trip was devastatingly harrowing,” he said. “Once we got to the improvements, it was awe-inspiring. I felt I was already in Hilo, it was so good.”

Click for larger view of the Saddle Road west alignment.

Concerns

Several people voiced concerns about depleted uranium in and around Pohakuloa Training Area and the possibility of disturbing ancient Hawaiian burials.

Ron Terry, principal of the Hilo-based Geometrician Associates, said the area has been surveyed repeatedly and neither has presented an issue.

“We don’t see any evidence of depleted uranium as being a problem for this section,” he said. As for ancient burials, Terry said, if any were found, “we’d move the road

One man wanted to be sure there was clear title to the land and another urged officials to review the land boundaries.

click for larger view of overall Saddle Road project.

Funding

The project is estimated to cost $58 million and currently has no funding.

However, once the final SEIS is approved in the spring, the design phase is expected to take another 18 months, so money won’t be needed for construction for about two years.

Gedeon said the start of construction – anticipated to take 18 to 24 months – will depend on the availability of funding, but he does not expect the project to be held up.

The Saddle Road Task Force has fought 16 years to get this far and members said they are not going to give up now. They also said Sen. Daniel Inouye is committed to seeing the project complete.

Terry said crews currently are working on an 8-mile chunk on the Hilo side and are scheduled to be done in little more than a year.

Design work on the 5-mile stretch closest to Hilo is about 70 percent complete and bids are expected to go out next fall.

Officials now are eager to tackle the final portion.

“We have a track record for success. We’re confident the funding will come and will be there,” Terry said. “We really want to get it done.”

The public comment period closing Jan. 7.

Comments may be mailed to Ken Tasuguchi, Highway Division, Planning Branch, 869 Punchbowl St. Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Copies of comments may also be sent to Katherine P. Kealoha, Office of Environmental Quality Control, 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 702, Honolulu, HI 96813.

The full supplemental environmental impact statement and other information is available online.

— Find out more:

www.saddleroad.com