Posts: 820
Threads: 106
Joined: Mar 2006
The entire project from m.m 6 (Puainako Extension) to Mamalahoa Highway is targeted to be completed by 2012. But a lot depends on if the money
is available.
As it stands now only the the m.m 35-41.5 section and most of Hilo side segments between m.m 6-19 have money in place to get it done.
Kahunascott, the project you referring to only will go from m.m 35-41.5. The county resurfaced up to m.m 43. They are planning to resurface down to Waiki'i Ranch next year. Which is good thing since the Kona side has not secured any funding.
I disagree that the general population doesn't use this road. According to the EIS, without the improvement project they predicted
the average daily traffic to be 4,400 by 2014. With the improvements they are predicting 14,400 by 2014.
Posts: 773
Threads: 83
Joined: Dec 2005
quote:
Originally posted by Aaron S
The entire project from m.m 6 (Puainako Extension) to Mamalahoa Highway is targeted to be completed by 2012. But a lot depends on if the money
is available.
As it stands now only the the m.m 35-41.5 section and most of Hilo side segments between m.m 6-19 have money in place to get it done.
Kahunascott, the project you referring to only will go from m.m 35-41.5. The county resurfaced up to m.m 43. They are planning to resurface down to Waiki'i Ranch next year. Which is good thing since the Kona side has not secured any funding.
I disagree that the general population doesn't use this road. According to the EIS, without the improvement project they predicted
the average daily traffic to be 4,400 by 2014. With the improvements they are predicting 14,400 by 2014.
Your missing my point. To spend the money on the camp section of the road that is going to be used by the public for one year is a waste of money. I have no problem resurfacing the Kona side that will be used for many years. And as far as traffic? I've just completed two projects right in the base, up there all day and the road is mostly used by contractors and not the general public. Take it from someone who is on site not some future usage article.
"Many dreams come true and some have silver linings, I look for my dreams and a pocket full of gold" Led Zeppelin
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it cost when it’s free...now here come the taxes.....
Posts: 2,899
Threads: 489
Joined: Mar 2006
I think part of the problem with current usage of the road is that rental car agencies forbid their vehicles from going up there. That of couse will drasticly change once the road improvements are finished.
Posts: 820
Threads: 106
Joined: Mar 2006
I personally don't think its waste of money.I was tired of having to drive over the pothole infested pavement all these years. Thus despite the fact that a part of this road is going to be re-aligned, I think it was money well spent.
http://www.saddleroad.com/05execsum.html
The 1994 average daily traffic (ADT) on Saddle Road was 900 vehicles.
Without the project, Saddle Road ADT is projected to be 4,400 by 2014. This level of need far exceeds the road's existing traffic capacity.
With the proposed improvements, Saddle Road ADT is expected to increase to 14,000 by 2014, nearly a four-fold increase over that of the No Action Alternative. The projected increase is because of a variety of demands: increased usage associated with commuter traffic; residential development at both ends of the road; tourism and recreation; agriculture; military operations; the Mauna Kea telescope complex; and increasing congestion along alternative cross-island routes.
Posts: 106
Threads: 9
Joined: Mar 2006
quote:
Originally posted by macuu222
I think part of the problem with current usage of the road is that rental car agencies forbid their vehicles from going up there. That of couse will drasticly change once the road improvements are finished.
I have rented cars on the Big Island dozens of times and I have never been told not to drive on the saddle road and I have read the rental agreement from top to bottom.
Posts: 2,899
Threads: 489
Joined: Mar 2006
I guess it's been awhile since I rented a car. Almost 7 years.
Posts: 2,655
Threads: 42
Joined: Sep 2006
Unless they changed in the last few years, they prohibit the saddle, Waipio Valley, and unpaved roads.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Posts: 382
Threads: 13
Joined: Feb 2007
It was a great idea to pave the pohakuloa section. There is a lot more traffic up there now and the road was unsafe. Now we all save by using less fuel and time to get to kona. I just don't want to see the area spoiled.
Daniel R Diamond
Daniel R Diamond
Posts: 2,466
Threads: 316
Joined: May 2008
If you have a FWD vehicle, you can drive on Saddle road.
6 years ago LOML and I rented a car to drive around Maui. It was a Hyundai Rio. Drove the road to Hana and thought "Well, why not just go all the way around?" After we made it through Haleakala park, the road "got a <ahem> little rough". To this day, I'm amazed and suprised that little car survived the trip. LOML never told me about the little warning printed on the map that said "rental cars forbidden beyond this point".
Oh, and Saddle road, we drive it all the time, no big deal. I liked it better years ago when there was no traffic and we'd pass maybe 3 cars (on the ranch side).
Puna: Our roosters crow first
Posts: 1,679
Threads: 203
Joined: Dec 2005
I like Saddle road also. I only wish it came out closer to Kailua, or Costco.
Royall
What goes around comes around!
