Heads up, Waimea residents and commuters: that upcoming roadwork you've been gearing up for has hit a snag. The Department of Public Works has postponed the scheduled wastewater system inspection that was to throttle traffic from November 4 to November 8. If your morning commute involves Waimea Canyon Drive or any of the other listed roads, you can breathe a sigh of relief—for now. The announcement came with an appreciated "mahalo" for the public's patience, acknowledging the inconvenience that these delays can trigger.
The scope of the work is significant; the Wastewater Management Division had activities planned that would have affected several roads, including Makeke Road, Menehune Road, and several others in the vicinity. A contractor, Underground Services, Inc., was set to inspect manholes leading to necessary, albeit intermittent, lane closures. One can only imagine the kind of congestion and scheduling havoc full-day lane closures can cause in a place like Waimea. But rest assured, this bullet has been dodged—for the time being.
For those who missed the now-stale warning signs, here's what was averted. Motorists were expected to face single-lane traffic accommodating both directions, managed by flaggers. Access to properties would have been maintained, but with the familiar consequence of added minutes—or hours—to the journey. As for when these disruptions will resurface, the Department is silent, simply promising that a notice will be released "when the work is rescheduled," according to their official press release.
Should you still have questions—maybe about what's happening under those manholes or about when this roadwork reckoning will be rescheduled—Donald Fujimoto from the Wastewater Management Division is your go-to. He's reachable at 808-241-4083, or through electronic mail at [email protected]. For now, Waimea's roadways flow unencumbered, and the residents and drivers have been granted reprieve. But like the waters held at bay by diligent sewers, this work is bound to resurface. Best to keep an eye on official channels for the next round of notices.
