Maui residents and visitors who plan to travel on Kaʻahumanu Avenue in the coming days should be prepared for some disruptions to their nighttime commute. According to an announcement from the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT), there will be a closure of the westbound lanes on Kaʻahumanu Avenue due to ongoing water line installation work for the new Maui Palms Hampton Inn project. The section between Kāne Street and Lono Avenue will be affected starting Thursday, Sept. 12.
For those specifically aiming to traverse the westbound corridor of Kaʻahumanu Avenue during the closure times, they will need to quickly adjust their itineraries. The full road closure is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. and will last until the early morning hours of 5:30 a.m. This will undoubtedly disrupt some usual nighttime traffic patterns, but detour routes have been arranged to aid motorists. HDOT's notification outlines alternative paths, with Lono Avenue and West Kamehameha Avenue serving as the main detour routes to rejoin Kaʻahumanu Avenue past the work zone.
While the work is underway, School Street will also be impacted as it lies within the closure's bounds. Signs and traffic cones are expected to be in place to facilitate vehicular movement around the construction site and ensure the safety of both the commuters and the workers stationed along the roadway. Motorists are urged to proceed with added caution when driving through this area to avoid any incidents with work crews who will be active throughout the night.
HDOT emphasises the importance of heeding the traffic management measures put in place during this construction period. They encourage drivers to allow for some additional travel time or to possibly seek out entirely different routes altogether, to further avoid the construction area.
