HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0101.047 1998-2000 09[12.99 10:35 FAX 808 329 5' BONA TRANS Q .. m 007 002
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March 11, 1999
In Support of Alii Highway 1 —• 70 C f
Alii drive is not the safest road for large trucks- Moving large and heavy loads is a
task in itself. As we drive our rigs through aii Drive, we are trying to maintain the
correct distance between the truck and the ca,- ahead and at the same time we also
need to scan our gauges and rearview mirrors. Cyclists overtake us on the right
and try to squeeze themselves between illegally parked cars on the shoulder and our
9' wide truck. Many cars driven by people new to Kona stop unexpectedly in the
middle of the road to try to read the signs on the condos. Others will pull half way
off the road without using directional signals, thereby forcing joggers and bikers to
encroach upon the normal traffic lane. The Air brakes on our trucks are very
effective in stopping heavy rigs, however, as experienced drivers will tell you, in an
emergency, if you slam on the brakes (stand an the pedal, as referred to by truckers)
and if you are carrying a heavy load, it seem- like an eternity before the rig begins
to slow down. Reducing our road speed is a'. z;ternative, but an irritation to the
cars following.
The bridge at the Kona Tiki Hotel is also as = :.s This bridge will not withstand
heavy loads. We currently route all of our titavy hauls to avoid this bridge. During
the recent construction projects along Alii DFiv °, all of our heavy hauls were routed
through Kamehameha III Road as opposed te other shorter routes on Alii Drive.
Until the bridge is repaired, the most critical ;oaths on this bridge will be the heavy
trucks with short wheel base, such as with g u b ge trucks and concrete misers.
Mauka - makai roads help with moving traffic an and off Alii Drive, however, the
main mauka -makai access (Lako -Royal Poinciana) is off limits to trucks.
School traffic currently begins at the north '.id somewhere near the Teshima
Restaurant. We try to dispatch our trucks °,void the school traffic in Kealakelcua.
In a few years, the school traffic will bottleneck near Kamehameha III intersection.
This would mean a stop and go situation on cne of the steepest highways in Kona
which is the known as the "Tanaka hill". Fully loaded trucks coming to a stop
while going uphill would have a very dill t tine starting in motion again.
Carritcrat . r o47
Comm. No.
File No. IND
Ref. T o Presented Co u&°tt_
Ref. Date 3 ' l � 9 9 _
0.3.12.99 10:36 FAN 808 329 5" KONA ?RAN., O 001/002
p6 a a
Tsunami alert. If there was an alert whereby -'es idents along Alii Drive were
instructed to evacuate in an hour, there wou be absolute chaos. Residents would
be trying to move to higher grounds while otha.: - s would be rushing home from work
to pick up their kids that are left at home. Negotiating a truck through that mess
would be frightening.
The proposed Alii Highway with wide shoulci.rs, appropriate signage and sight
distance would be welcomed by our group and greatly help with the safety of all
concerned.
Malcolm Acol
Julian Kaniho
Dispatchers, Kona Trans Inc.
Kailua -Kona, Hawaii