Contraflow operations resume on Oahu and Hawaii Island Thursday, May 7; update to Kuhio Highway contraflow on Kauai

Posted on May 6, 2020 in Highways Posts, Main, News

HONOLULU – As low risk businesses prepare to reopen across the State, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) will be resuming special use lane operations for congestion mitigation. Due to the COVID-19 emergency, HDOT suspended special use lane operations, including contraflow lanes such as the Zipper lane, on March 25.

Special use lane operations on Oahu and Hawaii Island will resume Thursday, May 7. The Kuhio Highway Contraflow on Kauai is planned to resume Monday, May 11 at the latest after temporary work is completed at the mauka Wailua Bridge.

A list of these lanes statewide and hours of operation can be found at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/special-use-lanes/ or on the list below.

OAHU

  • H-1 Eastbound Zip lane (HOV) from Managers Drive to Keehi
  • Nimitz Highway Eastbound HOV/contraflow lane Keehi to Industrial Parkway
  • H-1 Eastbound HOV lane from Waiawa to Keehi
  • H-1 Westbound HOV lane from Keehi to Waiawa
  • H-1 Eastbound shoulder express lane/HOV lane Pearl Harbor to Keehi
  • H-2 Southbound HOV lane Mililani to Waiawa
  • H-2 Northbound HOV lane Waiawa to Mililani
  • H-201 Moanalua Freeway HOV lane Halawa to Puuloa
  • Kalanianaole Highway Westbound contraflow/HOV lane West Halemaumau Street to Ainakoa Avenue
  • Kahekili Highway Southbound contraflow West Hui Iwa Street to Haiku Road
  • H-1 Eastbound shoulder express lane Waiawa to Halawa
  • H-1 Westbound shoulder express lane Halawa to Waimalu
  • H-1 Eastbound shoulder express lane Kualakai Parkway to Exit 5
  • Farrington Highway Westbound contraflow Piliokahi Avenue to Nanaikeola Street
  • Third lane on Oahu on Farrington Highway at Maipalaoa Bridge (operations continued through March 25 to provide needed capacity)
  • The coning off to create a right turn only to Punchbowl Street from eastbound Vineyard Boulevard for safety during the morning rush, although not a traditional special use lane, will resume
  • Evening, weekday closure of Piikoi Onramp to the H-1 eastbound (will resume for safety when traffic volumes return to within 20% of typical volumes)

HAWAII ISLAND

  • Route 130, Keaau-Pahoa Road northbound (Contraflow) from Shower Drive to Kaloli Drive

KAUAI

  • Kuhio Highway from Kapule Highway to Kapaa Temporary Bypass Road – Tentatively reopening Monday, May 11, may reopen sooner if temporary work is completed at mauka Wailua Bridge.

 

Please note that there are some special use lanes operated by the City and County of Honolulu, this resumption applies to State-operated lanes only.

HDOT also continues to monitor traffic and will continue to approve extended hours for closures so long as the traffic volumes remain under 20-25% of typical volumes. The data is updated on Mondays at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/covid-19-traffic-volume-comparison/ with the quality checked data from Wednesday the week before.

HDOT thanks the public and our partners for their cooperation and support during the emergency period for COVID-19.

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