FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             September 14, 2006

Release M-96-06

BERETANIA CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 18;

KING STREET AND AINA HAINA ROAD WORK UNDERWAY

            The City will begin the rehabilitation of Beretania Street, from Alapai Street to North King Street, on Monday, September 18.

            Work starts at the intersection of Alapai and South Beretania streets and will progress along Beretania Street past Aala Park to North King Street.  There will be lane closures throughout the 12-month project.  Message boards, signs, lane delineators, arrow boards, and special duty police officers and/or flagmen will be used during lane closures.  When work requires a sidewalk closure, there will be a detour for pedestrians.

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann said, “The construction on Beretania Street, one of our most heavily traveled roads, will pose some inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians and cause delays in travel time.  However, given the importance of this artery to downtown residents and businesses, as well as to commuters, it is vital that we keep it in prime condition.  I vowed to redirect City resources to the need-to-have, particularly maintaining our infrastructure, and this project certainly meets that criterion.”

            Rehabilitation is the most comprehensive work the City performs on its roads.  It involves rebuilding the road, sidewalks, and related systems.  The Beretania project will include reconstructing existing concrete sidewalks and roadways and resurfacing the paved travel lanes.  Pre-paving activities consist of upgrades to the drainage, traffic signal, and street light systems and the construction of new curb ramps and concrete bus pads/lanes.  Post-paving activities include adjustment of utility manholes and boxes to finish grade and installation of street signs and pavement markings.

            The project work hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  There will be possible weekend and night work Sunday to Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Beretania Street between Alapai and Alakea only.  The noise variance permit limits the work primarily to paving activities.

            Sato & Associates is the engineering design consultant.  Grace Pacific is the general contractor.  SSFM International is the construction manager and PMCI Hawaii is the public outreach coordinator.  The outreach coordinator’s 24-hour hotline number is 591-7666; the project website is www.ssfm.com/beretania_street.

            Cost of the road work is about $10 million.

            The City has also begun rehabilitation work on another project involving these roads:

·       South King Street, from Old Waialae Avenue (near the Hawaiian Humane Society) to McCully Street;

·       the entire loop of East Hind and West Hind drives, beginning and ending at Kalanianaole Highway;

·       Luinakoa Street in Ainakoa;

·       Kirkwood Place in Aina Haina; and

·       Kupaua Place in Niu Valley.

            Construction activities include rehabilitation of the roadway pavement.  Preliminary work began on September 11.  The projects are expected to take eight months to complete.  There will be some night work on King Street, from Kapaakea Lane to Old Waialae Road, for a two-month period.

            M&E Pacific is the engineering design consultant.  Contractor is James W. Glover, Ltd.  The cost of the listed projects is $4 million.

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Contact:

Bill Brennan, 527-6928

Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767

Beretania Street Project:

Amy Hirano, 536-5688 or 551-7800

King Street/Aina Haina Projects:

Civil Division, Dept. of Design and Construction, 523-4228