Rail archaeology study to cause street closures Downtown

DOWNTOWN — The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) wants to inform drivers that archaeological survey work continues in the urban Honolulu area for the rail transit project.

Motorists are advised of lane closures related to the survey work being conducted in the Kalihi, downtown Honolulu, and Kaka‘ako areas.

Work will require lane closures during non-peak traffic hours, including possible night work in approved areas. For the safety of both the work crews and motorists, the public is advised to proceed with caution through these areas. Drivers should anticipate possible traffic delays or use alternate routes during work hours.

Work for the week of Nov. 21 will take place at the following locations:

• Portions of Dillingham Boulevard from Middle Street to Kohou Street between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Halekauwila Street from Richards Street to Punchbowl Street between 8:30 a.m and 3:30 p.m.
• Halekauwila Street from Punchbowl Street to Keawe Street between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Halekauwila Street from Keawe Street to Cooke Street between 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Punchbowl Street from Pohukaina Street to Nimitz Highway between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The City is conducting the archaeological survey work along the urban Honolulu section of the Honolulu rail transit route to identify potential archaeological, historical and cultural resources. The archaeological work will aid rail project staff in their design of the elevated rail guideway.

Trenching work will take place through Summer 2012 at various locations along the Honolulu rail route between Middle Street in Kalihi and Ala Moana Center. Contractors Cultural Surveys Hawaii Inc. and Royal Contracting Co. will conduct the fieldwork.

The survey work will be completed before rail construction begins in the urban Honolulu area, as specified under the rail project’s programmatic agreement relating to cultural and historic resources.

For updates on construction work days and times, visit the project website at www.honolulutransit.org or contact our hotline at 566-2299.