Hāna Highway will be getting much needed improvements that will increase safety and accessibility with $5.8 million in capital improvement project funding released this week by the Governor.
The CIP funding for Hāna Highway was included in the 2015-2016 biennium state budget at the request of Senator J. Kalani English (Dist. 7 - Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe). The bulk of the funding will be used for rockfall mitigation and slope stabilization of the roadway, which is the only paved all-weather road to the Hāna and Keanae communities. This funding continues the second phase of the project to improve the 32-mile length of highway from Huelo to Hāna that included renovating existing drainage facilities to decrease maintenance costs and provide a safer roadway.
“I’m pleased that the funds we worked hard to secure are being released to complete the work on this critically important roadway,” said Sen. English. “The recent storms that caused rockslides, hastened erosion and caused the highway to be closed numerous times highlights the importance of this project. We’ll continue to collaborate with the state Department of Transportation to ensure a permanent, safe fix to Hāna Highway.”
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