Purpose & Need

On August 1, 2019, a 10-year old pedestrian was struck by a car near Laniakea Beach while crossing Kamehameha Highway. The incident provoked the North Shore community to protests, demanding action from City and State agencies and public officials to make the project area safe.* In response, HDOT has re-prioritized the section of Kamehameha Highway that fronts Laniakea Beach as rapidly as regulations and the law allows. Protecting the highway from erosion to keep it operational during high surf and future sea level changes as well as resolving traffic congestion remain as secondary objectives for the project.

With safety as the primary focus, the proposed project will address the following needs:

• Safety. Improve safety for pedestrians and all modes of transportation.
• Reliability. Address or accommodate coastal erosion to improve roadway reliability.
• Congestion. Relieve congestion to reduce travel times through the project area.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities. Provide safe facilities for alternative transportation modes.

These needs go hand-in-hand. For instance, by reducing the pedestrian and vehicle conflicts, the traffic flow may also improve.

 

*KOHN 2. August 11, 2019. Some North Shore Residents Hold Protest At Laniakea. Ask for Safety and Solutions.