U.S. DOT Grant to Fund New North Kahana Stream Bridge in Oahu |
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Federal Highway Administration
29 October 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 29, 2004
Contact: Doug Hecox, 202-366-0660
FHWA 20-04g
Hawaii's residents and visitors can expect a new bridge over the North Kahana Stream thanks to a $400,000 FHWA grant that will go towards replacing the bridge with a wider, safer structure, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced today
"This grant for a replacement bridge will help improve roadway safety along Oahu's North Shore," said Secretary Mineta.
The North Kahana Stream Bridge project will improve safety by providing a two-lane bridge with shoulders and pedestrian access, new pavement markings and an improved design to help reduce the area's periodic flooding. Additionally, the new bridge will feature crash-tested guardrails, which ensure that vehicles, on impact, are redirected away from the edge of the bridge back onto the roadway.
Mineta added that the innovative technologies used to construct this new bridge will not only save lives, but also tax payer dollars.
The project also features self-consolidating concrete, a newly developed material that will help reduce labor costs and provide a better appearance for the bridge
Built 50 years ago, the bridge carries 200,000 vehicles per day of both local traffic and tourists seeking access to the North Shore's scenic beaches, the Polynesian Cultural Center and produce from the small farming communities throughout the area. As part of the only road in this section of Oahu, the bridge is vital to the only evacuation route for North Shore residents. The project, which could cost up to $6 million, should be completed in less than two years.
"Investments in bridges like the North Kahana Stream Bridge are part of President Bush's continuing commitment to strengthening communities and keeping motorists safe," said Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters.
Since 1991, the FHWA has provided funds to states seeking to improve the safety, longevity or utility of key bridges with innovative materials or designs.