Downtown Hilo's busy Bayfront intersection is in for a major makeover. State transportation officials plan to replace the current signalized tangle where Bayfront Highway, Kamehameha Avenue and Waiānuenue Avenue meet with a single-lane roundabout, with construction set to start in 2027 and wrap up by March 2029. The redesign is aimed at easing chronic congestion and improving safety for people walking and biking in the heart of Hilo.
Funding and cost
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a RAISE grant that will cover roughly $17.6 million of the project, according to Spectrum News Hawaii. State transportation officials peg the total price tag at about $22 million, with federal money expected to cover about 80 percent and the state paying the rest, Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.
What the project will include
Plans call for a single-lane roundabout at the five-leg junction along with ADA-compliant sidewalks, pedestrian signals and new highway lighting intended to make it safer and more comfortable to walk or bike through the area. As detailed in the draft environmental assessment, the work would also upgrade drainage, reconfigure parking, relocate electrical infrastructure and add raised crosswalks and other traffic-management devices, according to Big Island Video News.
Council members voice mixed reactions
Local lawmakers are not entirely sold on how the roundabout will play out on the ground, especially for trucks, deliveries and waterfront access. "I cannot picture how the roundabout will help traffic entering and exiting Hilo," Councilmember Dennis Onishi told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Councilmember Jenn Kagiwada countered that "well-designed roundabouts can ease traffic, reduce speed and create steady flow" but stressed that the design must be current and must clearly protect people walking and biking.
Why the change now?
State and federal transportation officials describe the intersection as a long-running choke point that gets even worse when Bayfront Highway is closed due to flooding or high surf, which can cut off access to parts of downtown. Hawaii Tribune-Herald noted that recent crashes at the junction, including a fatal collision involving a cyclist, were among the safety concerns cited in support of the project.
Timeline and expectations
The state Department of Transportation told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that construction is expected to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for March 2029. Officials say the schedule will depend on wrapping up design work, finalizing contracts and coordinating utility relocations before crews move in.
How work will be staged
To keep traffic from grinding to a halt during construction, planners expect to phase the project so some lanes remain open while others are under work. Early stages are expected to focus on the Bayfront Highway and Kamehameha Avenue legs, followed by work on the Waiānuenue Avenue approach and the center island, according to the environmental review summarized by Big Island Video News. The project also includes drainage improvements and utility relocations intended to make the intersection more resilient to future flooding.
Local access and next steps
Transportation officials say the redesigned intersection should improve safe access to Kaipalaoa Landing Park, Wailoa River State Recreation Area, Russell Carroll Mooheau County Park, the Bayfront soccer fields and Bayfront Beach Park, according to Spectrum News Hawaii. Designers and contractors are expected to release detailed traffic and parking plans as the project moves through final design and the state locks in construction contracts.
