Saddle Road Update

[Aaron S]

Road & Highway Builders LLC of Reno Nevada is working on realigning the m.m 11-19 segment on the Hilo side. This phase should be completed by November 2011.

The design of last Hilo segment between m.m 6-11 is 70% finished. This last phase could go out to bid by the fall of 2010 if funding can be secured. It will be both a reconstruction and a realignment project. m.m 6- m.m 8 will be re-aligned around Country Club Estates and m.m 8-11 will be reconstructed.

The last Kona side phase between m.m 41 and Mamalahoa Highway will bypass the existing roadway at Seven Steps (below the Kilohana Girl Scout Camp). The CFLHD/HDOT is doing a supplemental EIS due to the U.S Army's request that the alignment be changed. (The U.S Army bought 30,000 acres of former Parker Ranch land for Stryker training).

The last Kona segment is estimated to cost 58 million dollars, will be about 10.3 miles long, and end at m.m 14 on Mamalahoa highway (four miles south of the Waikoloa Junction). The funding for this phase has also has been not secured yet. However, Sen. Inouye wants to see the entire Saddle Road improved before he leaves office.

Meanwhile, Hawaii County is going to be resurfacing the existing Saddle Road between m.m 44-48 during the first quarter of 2010. In addition, the county is trying to secure federal funding to resurface Saddle Road between m.m 48 and Mamalahoa Highway.

http://www.hawaii247.org/2009/12/12/sadd...-approval/

http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2009/1...leroad.htm

http://www.bigislandweekly.com/articles/...ents04.txt

[PaulW]

Thanks Aaron.
I was on the Saddle Rd last week and the only bad bit now is 8 miles on the Kona side.
It's becoming quite an asset.

[DanielP]

I am not sure why, but when I take saddle road or Hamakua, it seems like a race! And I am the tortoise. I like South point route. Mellow cruise except from Capt. Cook to Kona.

[Rob Tucker]

South Point route is indeed sweet. My favorite too.

[JerryCarr]

Isn't it a lot longer to go via South Point unless you start out at Volcano or beyond?

[Rob Tucker]

Maybe. But I never find myself slowly winding along behind a tractor trailer on the south route.... and there is a forty mile stretch with nothing made by man to be seen (except the road).

There is something very island style about not taking the fastest route all the time.

Ka`u is beautiful.

[DanielP]

No, Jerry, not alot longer. It does depend, of course, where exactly you start and finish, but if you are going Ke'eau to Kailua, it may be 15 minutes or less difference.

[PaulW]

Google Maps says 92.6 vs 116 miles, and 2h35 vs 2h56 (Keaau to Kona via Saddle or via South).

Strange, I always thought the South route was much longer - it certainly looks that way on a map.

[dmbwest]

South Point route is indeed sweet. My favorite too.

Rob,

Just said that last night to my wife. Will be interesting to see how crowded Saddle road gets onces it all done.

From our old place in Fern acres ... it was the exact same distance vs. saddle road to our destination in Kona.

aloha,
pog

[Kelena]

Another vote for the Southern Route. Pahala, Naalehu (sp?), South Point, the Kau Desert, Driving past the plume, the glorious weather, the little stores, the vegetable stand below Honaunau, the macadamia trees, the langorous pace......it's the only way to go unless you are in a breathless hurry. I make an excuse to drive that way when I am on island. Usually my excuse is I must go to Honaunau.