Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Photo courtesy of Governor’s Office)

MEDIA RELEASE

Further energizing Hawaii’s construction industry, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released more than $12.4 million for capital improvement projects (CIP) to increase safety and improve, expand and maintain transportation infrastructure across the state.

“Our highways and harbors provide us with a fundamental transportation link that we depend on economically and socially,” Abercrombie said. “By investing in this vital infrastructure, we also inject energy into the construction sector, which is expected to be our primary source for economic growth through next year.”

Allotment of funds for the following projects, identified by state legislators, has been approved by the Governor:

Highways Division:

* $4,360,000 – Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening, Phase II, Kealakehe Parkway to Keahole Airport Access Road

Additional construction funds to widen two-lane highway to a four-lane divided highway. Phase I went from Henry Street to Kealakehe Parkway. Queen Kaahumanu Highway is the only major roadway through the Kona area.

* $3,000,000 – Middle Street Reconstruction, North King Street to Kamehameha Highway, Oahu

Construction funds for improvements, including the reconstruction of the existing pavement areas and shoulders, upgrading highway lighting, and installing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible ramps.

* $900,000 – Kaumualii Highway Improvements, Lihue Mill Bridge to Rice Street, Kauai

Additional construction funds for a portion of a larger project to widen the roadway from an undivided, two-lane highway to a divided four-lane highway from Lihue to west of Maluhia Road. This phase of the project will construct improvements between Lihue and the Lihue Mill Bridge, from Milepost 0.09 to Milepost 0.47. Improvements include constructing a new outbound bridge, realigning Hoomano Road, constructing drainage systems and relocating utilities. The Lihue Mill Bridge will also be rehabilitated to meet current bridge loading and safety requirements.

* $530,000 – Kuhio Highway, Replacement of Waioli, Waipa and Waikoko Stream Bridges, Kauai

Land and design funds to replace three bridges in the vicinity of Hanalei Bay. The bridges were all built over 90 years ago, and do not meet current load or safety standards. The bridges will be replaced with new structures that meet current design safety standards, while maintaining the historical and scenic nature of the area.

* $500,000 – Hana Highway Rockfall Mitigation, Phase 2, Milepost 19.18 to 19.52, Maui

Additional construction funds to remove overhanging, protruding and unstable rocks from slopes above the roadway in order to prevent the rocks from falling onto the highway. Rockfall mitigation also may include installation of rockfall restraining mesh and anchors, slope cutting and revegetation of the slope.

* $448,000 – Nawiliwili Road Improvements, Vicinity Kaumualii Highway to Kanani Street, Kauai

Additional design and construction funds for full-depth pavement reconstruction of four lanes of roadway median areas, constructing sidewalks and replacing traffic signal equipment fronting the Kukui Grove Center.

* $389,600 – Statewide Planning and Research Program, Fiscal Year 2014, statewide

Planning and research funds for activities related to the development, management and operation of transportation systems and facilities for the state. Highway planning and research are prerequisites to continued receipt of federal highway funds.

* $320,000 – Hana Highway Bridge Preservation Plan, Maui

Planning funds for the development of a preservation plan for each of the state-owned bridges and structures within the Hana Highway Historic District. The project will consolidate the efforts for all the affected bridges and structures to determine their disposition, rather than doing each bridge individually.

* $280,000 – Project Scoping, statewide

Planning funds for various scoping studies, including road use, road life, transportation economics and advanced planning for federal aid and non-federal aid programmed highway projects.

* $270,000 – Hawaii Belt Road Drainage Improvements, Vicinity of Hakalau Bridge, Hawaii Island

Additional land funds to provide drainage improvements. During periods of heavy rainfall, slope runoff in the area floods the road, forcing its closure. This project will increase drainage capacity and help to alleviate flooding through improvements to the interceptor ditch, drainage spillways, lined gutters, catch basins and culverts.

* $225,000 – Honoapiilani Highway Shoreline Improvement, Vicinity of Olowalu, Maui

Additional design and land funds to restore roadway shoulders that have been damaged by repeated high surf and wave action. The project will include a revetment protection system, pavement repair and installation of guardrails.

* $209,000 – Pedestrian Countdown Timers, Phase II, Maui

Construction funds to replace existing pedestrian signal heads with 113 countdown timers to increase pedestrian safety and to ensure compliance with the standard requirements in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices at various locations.

* $112,000 – Kamehameha Highway, Kaluanui Stream Bridge Replacement, Oahu

Additional design funds to replace Kaluanui Stream Bridge, which is in the vicinity of Sacred Falls State Park. The bridge was built in 1926 and does not meet current roadway and shoulder width standards, vehicular load requirements, and lacks pedestrian walkways and bicycle facilities.

* $31,400 – Kamehameha Highway, Waikane Stream Bridge Replacement, Oahu

Land funds needed to continue in the replacement of the Waikane Stream Bridge, which is in the vicinity of Waikane Valley. The bridge was built in 1928 and does not meet current design standards, vehicular load requirements or seismic criteria. The bridge will be replaced with a new wider and longer structure that meets the current design standards, including wider shoulder to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Land funds are required to negotiate purchase of land.

Harbors Division:

* $500,000 – Hilo Harbor Modifications Feasibility Study, Hawaii Island

Planning funds to identify and formulate potential alternatives to improve navigation and surge conditions at the harbor, which was constructed in 1930 and does not readily accommodate today’s larger vessels.
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$350,000 – Install Lift Station and Force Main, Port Allen Harbor, Kauai

Design and construction funds for improvements to the comfort station sewage system to allow public use.

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Governor releases $52.4M to improve public housing, modernize technology infrastructure

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released more than $52.4 million for various capital improvement projects (CIP) that will improve state public housing facilities and address aging technology to increase the state’s work and energy efficiency.

“These funds will help bring positive change to the lives of those in public housing and provide much-needed job opportunities,” Abercrombie said. “This administration has now released more than $3 billion for capital improvement projects that are helping to stimulate our economy. Hawaii’s labor force is at an all-time high and the state’s unemployment rate is at its lowest level since August 2008.”

Allotment of funds for the following projects, identified by state legislators, has been approved by the Governor:

Department of Human Services

* $45,000,000 – Lump Sum Public Housing Development, Improvements and Renovations, statewide

Design, equipment and construction funds to develop, upgrade or renovate public housing facilities, including ground and site improvements, infrastructure, equipment, appurtenances and all related or associated project costs for public housing across the state. Hawaii Public Housing Authority administers a public housing portfolio of 85 properties, consisting of 6,195 public housing units.

* $2,000,000 – Modernization of Eligibility Determination System, statewide

Design funds for plans to modernize the eligibility determination system for public assistance programs under the Benefits, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD), which will be integrated with Medicaid’s new eligibility system. Currently, BESSD relies on a 25-year-old integrated computer system to automate eligibility determination for its public assistance programs, including General Assistance; Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled; Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families; and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

* $2,000,000 – Modernization of Case Management System, statewide

Design funds for plans to modernize the case management system for the Social Services Division. The current system is approximately 25-years-old and is based on outdated information technology that is both costly and time consuming to maintain and update. The new system will be partially integrated with Medicaid’s new Kauwale On-Line Eligibility Assistance System (KOLEA).

Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism

* $2,725,000 – High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) Facility, Oahu

Design funds for a new HTDC facility. HTDC’s lease for its Manoa Innovation Center will terminate in April 2015.

* $734,000 – Chiller Replacement with Energy Efficient Technologies at Maui Research and Technology Center (MRTC), Maui

Planning, design, construction and equipment funds to replace the chiller at MRTC and construct a mechanical room on the ground to protect the new equipment from the elements. The chiller replacement and relocation will reduce maintenance costs, increase energy efficiency and have replacement parts readily available should there be a failure.