OLOWALU, Maui (KHON2) — The state Department of Transportation is getting ready to start a major road project on West Maui. It’ll address constant problems in the area, but is expected to cost almost double as originally thought.
Honoapiilani Highway in Olowalu is known for flooding. And the ocean is creeping closer and closer to the roads. So the state plans on moving it.
“The biggest need for this is to make sure we build resiliency into the system,” said Ed Sniffen, state Department of Transportation Director. “When we move this highway further, mauka, we take out any impacts from the ocean.”
A final environmental impact statement, or EIS, was submitted by the state Department of Transportation last week. The plan – move a six-mile stretch of the highway between Launiupoko and Ukumehame more mauka, away from the water.
“We want to make sure that we build a more resilient system because 33 percent of Maui’s economy live on the west side, as well as a bunch of our workforce out there, a bunch of our residents,” said Sniffen. “So, we want to make sure that our highways don’t get cut off in that area.”
Dr. Chip Fletcher, climate scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, says by moving this critical roadway away from the vulnerable coastline, Hawaii is proactively addressing the risks of erosion and sea level rise instead of waiting for disaster to strike.
Cost was initially projected at $160 million. But the final EIS has it at $298 million. Sniffen says the increase is due to the cost of labor and materials going up, but also some additions to the original plan, including another mile-and-a-half of road, two intersections and bike and pedestrian paths.
West Maui Senator Angus McKelvy, whom we spoke with by phone, calls the road work critical and hopes the legislature can get all the funding needed.
Cost will be split 80-20 between the federal and the state. And Sniffen says the state was able to secure $23 million with help from Senator Brian Schatz and a $22 million grant.
“There’s significant portions of funding that would be available to help us with this project,” said Sniffen. “In the end, it’s absolutely necessary for us to move.”
Check out more news from around Hawaii
Bids are scheduled to go out next month. Groundbreaking is expected in 2027, with work done by 2031.