Friday, May 6, 2005 10:20 AM HST
Capital improvements project budget has new East Hawaii projects
Education and transportation on the Big Island will see major improvements under the construction budget approved this week by state lawmakers.
The capital improvement projects budget includes more than $18 million to begin building a new campus for Hawaii Community College. The new campus, part of the "Mauka Lands" project, will be located on a 122-acre parcel on Komohana Street.
The two-year college is currently split between its Manono Street campus and classrooms at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
The Legislature also earmarked $20 million to construct a science and technology building at UHH as well as $2 million to design a Hawaiian language building on the campus.
A new traffic light will also be built at UHH's main entrance on Kawili Street to improve safety for pedestrians at the intersection it will share with the U.S.-China Center now under construction.
In other education matters, lawmakers appropriated $5 million for a new classroom building in Naalehu. They also earmarked $3.6 million for a new gymnasium in Pahoa to replace the 70-year-old structure now in use.
State Rep. Helene Hale had previously secured about half that amount to be used to build the gym under a partnership with a private company but because of delays in finalizing the arrangement she was concerned that the funding might lapse.
"Now I'm assured that one way or another we'll have a new gym in Pahoa," she said.
The biggest ticket item for the Big Island in the CIP budget is $45 million to construct a new barge terminal at Hilo Harbor. The new terminal will help separate the cargo activities from cruise ship arrivals and will allow two cruise vessels to dock at the pier at the same time.
Lawmakers also gave the go-ahead to the widening of Queen Kaahumanu Highway to a four-lane highway between the Kealakehe Parkway and Keahole-Kona International Airport. The cost of the state and federal project is $30 million.
In other transportation matters, lawmakers earmarked $6.6 million to make permanent a temporary third lane on Highway 130. The shoulder lane between the Keaau Bypass and Shower Drive on the Keaau-Pahoa Highway is currently used only during morning rush hours and will require widening and strengthening to meet highway standards.
The Legislature approved another $650,000 to construct a left-hand turning lane into the Makuu Farmers Market. Sen. Russell Kokubun said lawmakers are concerned about traffic tie-ups on Sundays at the market's entrance because of its growing popularity.
Another $2.5 million will be spent widening the Volcano Highway from Keaau to Paahana Street, where Kamehameha Schools' East Hawaii campus is located.
Dave Smith can
be reached at <mailto:dsmith@
hawaiitribune-herald.com>dsmith@hawaiitribune-herald.com.