Underground Utility Work Requiring Bypass at Iwalani Street

A project to relocate underground utilities is causing some traffic headaches in a Hilo neighborhood.

A spokeswoman with the county Department of Public Works said the project has at times closed the entrance to South Iwalani Street at the West Kawailani Street intersection, but the contractor appears to have worked out a way to keep it open — at least for now.

Noelani Whittington said motorists are now able to turn left on South Iwalani from Kawailani Street to reach Haihai Street.

The work is being done only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, so pau-hana rush-hour traffic is not being affected.

The project involves work by Hawaiian Telcom and the Department of Public Works in preparation of future road work from Kanoelehua to Kuhilani Street and portions of Ainaola Boulevard. That future work will include installation of two traffic signals.

The Federal Highway Administration is paying for 80% of the $1 million project while the county is funding the remainder. The project is expected to take about a month to complete.

The project’s contractor is Integrated Construction Inc.