FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            November 22, 2006

Release No. M-123-06          

MAYOR ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY SUSPENSION OF KAPIOLANI WORK

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced that work on the Kapiolani Water and Sewer System Improvements project will be suspended throughout the holiday season, beginning tomorrow (Thursday, November 23, 2006).

            “As we promised from the outset with this project, we will suspend work for the holidays to accommodate the heavy seasonal increase in traffic in this area,” said Hannemann. “The project will resume after January 12.

            “The City’s contractor, Frank Coluccio Construction Co., is scheduled to remove all of its equipment from Kapiolani Boulevard and Kamakee Street by midnight tonight,” Hannemann added. “While work is suspended, normal pre-project traffic patterns will be in effect. That includes full contraflow coning during the morning and pau hana rush hours.”

            For the duration of the work suspension, a fourth lane will be coned off on Kapiolani between McCully and South streets for the morning and evening rush hours.

            The $32 million project involves replacing sewer and water infrastructure that is more than 70 years old. The two-year project began in September with sewer work.  When the project resumes in January, in addition to the sewer system, work to replace the water mains will begin along Kapiolani Boulevard starting from Ward Avenue.

            “We realize this work causes some inconvenience and we appreciate the aloha of motorists, pedestrians, residents and businesses that have been affected,” said Hannemann. “The project is absolutely essential to public health and safety. Once the holidays are over, we’ll get back at it.”

For more information, see the project website at http://www.kapiolaniwatersewer.org/ or call the project hotline at 587-8032.

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Contact:

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767