Loading...
Kekaha 'Akialoa Vision Design Meeting Follow-Up_04_19_23Kekaha Road and ʻAkialoa Road (Route 551) Improvements County of Kaua ʻi Department of Public Works April 19, 2023 Design Workshop Follow-up Meeting Project Overview Recap: Audit Walk & Design Workshop -February 6th and 7th Roadway Corridor Improvement Ideas Areas of Specific Concerns Other Issues to Consider Next Steps Discussion / Q & A Tonight’s Agenda Project Overview Source: Google Maps Project Location Map BEGIN PROJECT Kaumualiʻi Highway + ‘Akialoa Road END PROJECT Kaumualiʻi Highway + Kekaha Road Primary Project Purposes Repair and rehabilitate the pavement surface Enhance safety for all users Reduce high-speed traffic on Kekaha Road by implementing traffic calming measures Encourage pedestrian & bicycle activity Create a solution that supports transformative change consistent with the West Kauaʻi Community Plan (WKCP) Provide bicycle and pedestrian connectivity to Waimea Town (combined with Waimea to Kekaha Shared Use Path) Secondary Project Purposes Highlight Kekaha Town and the Gateway to Waimea Canyon Incorporate ancillary improvements -Drainage improvements -Roadway lighting, where appropriate -Cox Drainage Canal parapet safety rail transitions Incorporate green stormwater infrastructure where feasible Add elements of landscaping, shade trees, vegetated swales, etc. West Kauaʻi Community Plan Kekaha Circulation Map (2020) Source: West Kauaʻi Community Plan (Adopted December 2020) Current Pavement Conditions Distressed Pavement Transverse and Block Cracking Shoulder Drop-Offs Poor Roadside Conditions Current Roadway Section Roadside Drainage (Ponding) Issues Lack of Pedestrian Facilities Bicyclists Share the Road with Vehicles No Shoulders; Drop offs at Edge of Pavement Current Drainage Conditions Drain Inlets not functioning as intended Ponding along Shoulder Walk Audit & Design Workshop Recap February 6 & 7, 2023 Walk Audit -Key Takeaways Traffic congestion during drop off/pick-up for schools Lack of sidewalks / pedestrian facilities, especially routes to local schools Speeding on Kekaha Road Drainage, including elevation of roadway compared to existing sidewalks Challenging intersection at Kōkeʻe Rd & ‘Alae Rd February 6, 2023 Walk Audit -Other Takeaways Obscured sight lines due to obstacles -Vegetation overgrowth and fences Stop sign position, examples: -Kōkeʻe Road -‘Alae Road Vehicles that shortcut corners via shoulders (e.g. Kala Road) February 6, 2023 Design Workshop Activity Design Workshop -Key Takeaways Don’t change the character of Kekaha –quiet, rural, family-oriented, safe & close-knit community Addressing flooding and roadway drainage is priority, particularly for west end up to the Mill area Speeding is a problem; traffic calming measures are needed Prefer sidewalks and safe routes to schools for children who walk and bike; consider also elderly and handicap access Prefer no roundabout at Kekaha Rd / Kōkeʻe Rd / ʻAlae Rd intersection Additional crosswalk locations should be considered More lighting needed near crosswalks February 7, 2023 Design Workshop –Conflicting Ideas Shared-Use Path (~10’ wide) vs. Sidewalks (5’ minimum width) Sidewalks vs. Parking Residential areas, especially at east end Cox Drainage –Widen vs. Keep As Is Currently helps control speed by constricting traffic, but has inadequate width for pedestrians & bicyclists February 7, 2023 Design Workshop –Design Principles Implement speed tables and/or speed cushions Reconfigure intersections -Kekaha Rd –Kōkeʻe Rd –ʻAlae Rd -Kekaha Rd –Kaumuali‘i Hwy Incorporate paved and unpaved parking areas Include sidewalks throughout Incremental upgrades to drainage infrastructure Evaluate improvements to street lighting within project limits, especially at crosswalks February 7, 2023 Design Workshop –Action Items In Progress Coordinate with Kekaha Elementary School to implement temporary controls and other trial restrictions to alleviate traffic congestion during peak pick-up times Coordinate with Ke Kula Niʻihau O Kekaha & Kekaha Elementary School for crosswalk need and optimal location --Complete Clean identified existing drain inlets and culverts -Some inlets were cleaned this month, more to come Future Considerations (Not Part of this Project) Manage drop off and pickup concerns at Kekaha Elemenatary School -Implement permanent regulatory prohibitions for left turns into and/or parking on Kekaha Road during peak pick-up times -Reduce pickup & dropoff number on Kekaha Road by making improvements to ʻIwipolena Road (behind the school) Add crosswalks along Kaumuali‘i Hwy (e.g. Kala Rd) Open ditch outlets along Kaumuali‘i Hwy to address drainage Address possible soil toxicity in the vicinity of the Mill Roadway Corridor Improvement Ideas Source: Kauaʻi Now News Cross section elements shown here are not to scale and are intended to be constructed within the Right-of-Way Cross section elements shown here are not to scale and are intended to be constructed within the Right-of-Way ‘Akialoa Road At -Grade Sidewalk Note: Right-of-Way width and location varies West East Grass Swale Kekaha Road -‘Akialoa Rd to Amakihi Rd Parking + Raised Sidewalk Note: Right-of-Way width and location varies Mauka Makai Grass Swale Kekaha Road -‘Amakihi Rd to ‘Io Rd Note: Right-of-Way width and location varies Raised Sidewalk Mauka Makai Raised Sidewalk + Parking Kekaha Road -‘Io Rd to Kekaha Sugar Mill (excluding area fronting KANAKA School) Note: Right-of-Way width and location varies Grass Swale Mauka Makai Raised Sidewalk + Parking Kekaha Road -KANAKA School Note: Right-of-Way width and location varies Paved Parking Lane Mauka Makai Raised Sidewalk + Parking Kekaha Road -Mill to Kaumuali‘i Hwy Note: Right-of-Way width and location varies Grass Swale Parking + Raised Sidewalk Mauka Makai Areas of Specific Concerns Walk Audit, Feb. 2023 •Kekaha Road / ‘Alae Road / Kōke‘e Road Intersection •Speeding / Traffic Calming Measures •Pedestrian Safety / Crosswalks •Drainage / Re-Paving Options Potential Intersection Improvements Kekaha Road / ‘Alae Road / Kōke‘e Road -Raised Sidewalks -Additional Crosswalks -Roundabout -Intersection Realignment We Got It! Kekaha Rd / Kōkeʻe Rd / ‘Alae Rd Intersection Reconfigure intersection to clearly identify traffic movements and mitigate speeding Kekaha Rd / Kōkeʻe Rd / ‘Alae Rd Intersection Note: Addresses will be added to street name signs Traffic Calming (Exact locations to be determined) Speed Cushions or Speed Tables Traffic Calming (Exact locations to be determined) Speed Cushions or Speed Tables Traffic Calming (Exact locations to be determined) Speed Cushions or Speed Tables 'Akialoa Road 'ElepaioRoad Crosswalk Modifications –Kōke‘e Road Crosswalk Modifications –Post Office Area Drainage Concerns and Constraints Here’s the point: Water is flowing the wrong way! Drywells or Subsurface Detention/ Infiltration Systems Explore ability to infiltrate stormwater into underlying sandy soils Re -paving Methods •Overlay Minimally scarify existing pavement to accept a thin layer of asphalt (typically 1 to 3 inches) •Mill and Fill Remove the top layer of the existing pavement (1 to 3 inches or more) to accept a thin layer of asphalt (typically 1 to 3 inches) •Rehabilitation Excavate and remove the roadway pavement (typically 18 inches or more) to construct a new pavement section that consists of base course, asphalt base, and asphalt Repaving Methods –Overlay Note: When roadway pavements are overlaid, the exposed curb height is reduced with each subsequent overlay Repaving Methods –Mill & Fill Note: Restoring the full curb height will reduce the overall pavement thickness and leave it more susceptible to cracking, potholes, and failure Option 1 Option 2 Repaving Methods –Rehabilitation Here’s the point: Pavement Rehabilitation costs considerably more than Mill & Fill Resurfacing ($1.5M per lane-mi vs. $400K per lane-mi) and takes longer to construct (17 days per lane-mi vs. 5 days per lane-mi), but will result in a much more durable roadway pavement Other Issues to Consider Existing drainage infrastructure is inadequate -Requires major overhaul to make fully functional -May require regulating ditch flow High water table underlying Kekaha Town -Approximately 5 feet below grade in some areas Near term improvements should compliment future improvements -Timeline for implementation of future improvements is unknown Next Steps Maintenance of existing drainage infrastructure –Spring to Summer 2023 Complete permitting and design for project –May 2024 Federal funds obligation deadline –Fall 2024 Contractor selection and procurement process –Spring 2025 Start construction –Summer 2025 Discussion / Q & A County of Kauaʻi Department of Public Works Charlene Johnston, Civil Engineer cjohnston@kauai.gov 808.241.4885