LETTER: Traffic Never Seen Before

Photo was taken one mile from the three way stop but went on for 7 more miles. PC: Jason Tani

I drove home from Waimea last night at 5 and encountered traffic I have never seen before.

Because of the closure of Mamalahoa Highway, traffic was bumper to bumper for 8 miles from the intersection of Kawaihae road and Queen K Highway all the way past waikoloa road at the Waikoloa resort area.

I estimate people were waiting for hours in that horrendous line.

I called 911 to get police to manage the intersection of kawaihae and Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. there was a state construction worker trying his best to direct traffic but i don’t think realized the gravity of the situation.

One solution I can think of is to put a roundabout at that intersection instead of a stop sign and to make multiple lanes as you approach that crucial three way stop. if people were allowed to turn up kawaihae road sooner than the stop sign, i think that would help. Roundabouts are an old European solution to a problem that american traffic has with stop signs and lights creating bottlenecks at intersections. They allow for a continuous flow of traffic.

I am a new resident and have heard there are fires every summer in the waikoloa area and that highway closure of mamalahoa is not unheard of.

Department of highway needs to consider a solution.

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