The Kona Blog

There is good possibility there may be further delays with the commencement of construction of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway Phase II widening project. Hawaiian Dredging & Construction Co. has filed a protest with the HDOT in regards to the recent BAFO bid award to Goodfellow Brothers Inc to widen Queen Kaahumanu Highway between Kealakehe Parkway and Kona Int’l Airport.

The HDOT is already in the process of addressing this protest. They’ve already sent out a bid award justification letter last week to HDCC.If they decide to pursue this further there will be a hearing in front of the DCCA. Which may take up to 4 months. However I’ve been assured this complaint will be expedited. Thus it may be heard in 1-2 months.

There has been more information released about the proposed Target and Safeway stores to be built across from Home Depot in Hilo. A draft environmental assessment for this project has been released.Hopefully it will address the concerns I raised here and here.

I strongly feel Hawaii County is being overly optimistic that they will will be able to commence construction on either Alii Parkway or the Hokulia bypass anytime soon.I wish I could be more hopeful. But both of this projects face significant obstacles (the Coupe land condemnation case,burials in the right of way) that will most undoubtedly hold up these projects  for the foreseeable future.

Lastly, Ian Lind blogged about the significant amount of local investors who lost their investment due to Hawaiian Telcom’s recent bankruptcy filing .