Funding is included in the budget plan for the examination of Puna Alternate Roadway Project
Unblocked, Unfiltered, and Uncensored Breakdown:
The 2025 budget handed to Governor Josh Green includes a whopping $2.5 million for the investigation of potential bypasses for the Puna district on the Big Island. It appears that the residents of this region have had it rough, with a single highway causing chaos during daily commutes and potentially being a major disaster response headache.
This funding comes after a previous allocation of $1 million for such a study, with the state expecting Hawaii County to chip in $500,000. Unfortunately, that money vanished midway through 2024, forcing an unexpected reallocation.
The funds will support a probe into two separate bypass routes: the Puna Makai (ocean) Alternate Route and the Puna Mauka (mountain) Alternate Route. Remember, Highway 130, affectionately known as the Keaau-Pahoa road, is the only major road in Puna and became perilously close to flooding during the June 2014 lava flow. If that lava had crossed near Pahoa, the lower Puna would have been cut off from the rest of the island, popping the region's isolation cherry.
The goal? To pinpoint locations for new routes into Puna, which would streamline emergency response, chop down resident commuting times, and relieve traffic congestion, making it a win-win-win.
"We, the Hawaii Island legislators, have united in our purpose to secure funds for a bypass that'll bless Puna residents," Rep. Greggor Ilagan, a Puna Democrat, stated. "This money will aid in planning a fresh roadway to minimise traffic snarls and enable emergency access during natural calamities."
Ilagan mentioned that the need for a bypass has long been a top priority for Puna residents, making communal appearances during almost every one of the 48 town hall meetings his office has organized in the past four years.
In addition, state Reps. Jeanné Kapela and House Majority Caucus Leader Chris Todd, also Democrats, spearheaded the effort to secure $1 million in state cash for the Puna Mauka (mountain) Alternate Route study, with the condition that the county coughs up an extra $1 million.
"Those funds have already been approved and reserved (cough, cough)," Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz stated, implying county officials have already locked away their contribution. "My understanding is that Public Works is currently prepping the plan for building an alternate roadway both on the mountain and ocean sides."
Kapela, whose district includes large sections of upper Puna, called the funding "critical to evaluating the feasibility of the long-awaited bypass route for the Puna community."
"Our residents deserve safe and reliable routes, providing an enhanced quality of life," she concluded.
Todd, who represents a portion of Hilo and upper Puna, reported possible alternative routes discussed in the study may "take pressure off Highway 130, repeating traffic snarls, the sole major transportation artery in Puna."
Kierkiewicz cautioned that the Transportation Director Ed Sniffen had made it clear "we need to consider every possible avenue."
"I'm on the same page," she echoed. "If we intend to go after federal funding, they'll want to know - when reviewing our regional strategy for Puna - that all possible routes have been scrutinized. They won't be pleased with simply seeing new roads for the ocean and mountain or a focus solely on infrastructure. They'll expect a comprehensive plan, including interconnectivity and examination of all options."
The majority of Puna residents seem to accept that another major roadway is necessary, both for managing the everyday traffic congestion on Highway 130 and as a potential escape route in case of another natural disaster. However, residents of Hawaiian Homes in Puna have voiced concerns that the state or county could construct a bypass through Department of Hawaiian Home Lands properties, which could displace Hawaiians and disrupt communities.
"Everyone deserves a say," Kierkiewicz stressed. "However, it's crucial that residents in Hawaiian Homes are heard and valued. The Hawaiian Home Lands Keaukaha-Panaewa Regional Development Plan clearly states they aren't interested in hosting a highway for Puna commuters because they currently possess East Hawaii's infrastructure - like the landfill, the port, and the wastewater treatment facility."
State Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, a Puna Democrat who advocated for the study's funding, declared it "an essential step towards addressing one of Puna's most pressing needs - safe and reliable access."
"Our community has relied on a single highway that becomes treacherous during mundane commutes and disasters," she concluded.
Want some more deets? Emails can be sent to [email protected]. Oh, and you can subscribe for $10 a month, but who's counting?
- The funds allocated for the investigation of potential bypass routes in Puna, such as the Puna Makai (ocean) Alternate Route and the Puna Mauka (mountain) Alternate Route, are expected to improve emergency response, reduce commute times, and alleviate traffic congestion in the region.
- Rep. Greggor Ilagan emphasizes the importance of the bypass for Puna residents, stating that it will minimize traffic snarls and enable emergency access during natural calamities.
- State Reps. Jeanné Kapela and Chris Todd are working together to secure funding for the Puna Mauka (mountain) Alternate Route study, with the condition that the county provides an additional $1 million.
- Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz highlights the need for a comprehensive plan for the bypass, including interconnectivity and examination of all options, to be eligible for federal funding. She also stresses the importance of addressing the concerns of residents in Hawaiian Homes in Puna regarding potential displacement.
