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Mamalahoa bypass to open Tuesday afternoon

MEDIA RELEASE

The long-awaited Mamalahoa bypass opens Tuesday, March 10, under a grant of easement with Oceanside 1250, developer of Hokulia, while the road dedication is in process. 

This allows the county use of the road for one-way southbound travel from 3:30–6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding holidays.   

Motorists will enter the bypass from the end of Alii Drive and exit through Kona Scenic subdivision to reach Mamalahoa Highway.  

Bikes, scooters, mopeds, pedestrians, and vehicles with a gross vehicular weight over three (3) tons are not allowed on the bypass during this trial period and will be stopped by an off-duty police officer at the entrance. No stopping or standing along the bypass is permitted. 

Message boards will be positioned to alert drivers of the bypass hours. 

Printed brochures are available at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Federal Credit Union, the Mayor’s office and at Public Works in Kona and Hilo. Electronic brochures are also available on the county Web site, under Mamalahoa Bypass in “Projects Update.” 

Safety improvements were recently completed in Kona Scenic subdivision between Kamehameha III and Kaleiopapa Road in Keauhou Resort and along Alii Drive. These improvements were mandatory before the Mamalahoa bypass could open.   

The state has envisioned the bypass since 1979 in anticipation of a growing population. Currently, a large portion of the South Kona community works in either North Kona or South Kohala and commutes daily along Mamalahoa Highway. The new two-lane bypass in South Kona gives motorists an alternate route between North Kona and South Kona. 

It runs north-south and is located midway between the shoreline and Mamalahoa Highway. The northern portion of the bypass starts at the southern edge of Keauhou and runs approximately three miles to the bottom of Halekii Street in Kealakekua’s Kona Scenic subdivision. 

— Find out more:

Hawaii County: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/contents.htm

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