Department of Transportation

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces the temporary closure of the Piikoi Street onramp to the H-1 Freeway eastbound beginning April 17-29, 2017. The onramp will remain closed 24 hours a day during this period. Motorists will continue to be able to access the eastbound direction of the freeway via the Ward Avenue and University Avenue onramps.

The purpose of the closure is to conduct maintenance work to the onramp. Additionally, the closure will be used as a demonstration period to study the traffic impacts of the onramp closure.

Traffic movements on the eastbound H-1 Freeway and surrounding streets will be monitored during the closure. The demonstration will help determine if the closure reduces congestion on the freeway sufficiently to justify improvements on the alternate routes. Currently, significant weaving and friction results on the eastbound H-1 from vehicles entering the freeway from the Piikoi Street onramp who must merge left across two lanes in order to continue on the freeway, while simultaneously, vehicles exiting the freeway at the Punahou Street offramp are merging right.

“The Punahou Street offramp and Piikoi Street onramp has been an area of concern in terms of congestion. With the scheduled maintenance work it is an ideal opportunity to see how traffic is impacted from the onramp closure,” said Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Division Deputy Director. “HDOT is constantly looking for new ways to improve the highways system and this could be a way to make the freeway more efficient.”

Motorists are urged to use GoAkamai.org, the GoAkamai app, or any of the many other free apps and resources available that provide up to the minute live traffic conditions.

HDOT welcomes feedback from the community on the project. Those wishing to comment may email the Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or call 808-587-2160.

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