Saddle Road Connector Road Planned

The Saddle Road alignment will bring the new terminus about 6 miles south of the current Waikoloa Junction on the Mamalahoa Highway.  The Connector road will continue the Saddle Road from the Mamalahoa Highway to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway.  There are three proposed routes Green, Purple and Red all ending at a new site south of the current Waikoloa Junction. 

Construction on the Saddle Road extension would extend the cross-island link from its current terminus on Mamalahoa Highway to the Queen Kaahumanu Highway with construction beginning as soon as 2017 based on an proposed environmental impact statement notice.  The connector is the last phase of a major overhaul of the Saddle Road that began in the mid-1990s.

The current Saddle Road realignment will move the junction about six miles closer to Kailua-Kona to Mile Marker 14 south of Wailoloa Road.  This is part of a major realignment project that will provide a much shorter, faster and safer route between East and West Hawaii.  Kirkland Construction was awarded a $33.7 million contract and will have until June 2013 to complete the 9.6 miles of earthwork  Construction on the realignment began late last year.

Once completed, this project will have a profound impact on the communities and economy of the Big Island.  Excursions that would have taken the better half of a day will now be completed in a little over and hour which is normal under Big Island standards.

-Rep Mark Nakashima

Hilo High School Gym a Step Closer to Reality

3D Rendering of the new Hilo High School Gym as seen from Waianuenue Avenue

On April 12th, the "last and final charette" for the Hilo High School gym was held. Representatives from the state, county, American Red Cross, Alumnae, and HHS were in attendance.

The gym will be built in one phase and when completed with seat 1376 in the bleachers when open, and 880 in the closed position.  The gym will be built to meet the requirements of being a shelter as well as meeing ADA requirements.  Various green energy initatives such as solar water heating will also be included in the gym design.

Ground breaking for the gym which has been delayed for over a year is now planned for June, 2012.

Honoka'a HIgh School Wall Rebuilt

The large stone wall marking the Makai-Hilo boundary of the Honoka'a High School Campus has been unstable since the October, 2006 earthquake that caused much damage in North Hawaii. A portion of the wall running mauka-makai gave away during the quake and has remained unrepaired for the past four years. Finishing touches were made to the concrete wall by adding the appearance of a rock wall finish made of concrete which marks completion of that phase of the project that began several months ago.