After a bit of a rocky start, the most recent phase of the Lahaina Bypass road is finding acceptance.
Some confusion caused a traffic jam opening on opening day last April, but since, traffic flow on the “Route 3K” has gotten much better. Paving and striping have been completed, and the Southern Connector Road is open, providing Maalaea-bound traffic access to Honoapiilani Highway.
Many residents expected the access to Honoapiilani Highway at Olowalu to be different, and there are stills some traffic snarls at the northern terminus in Lahaina. It’s a new way of traveling this part of the island that may just take some getting used to. The highway department is also working on modernizing traffic signals and making lane improvements, which will help.
The jury may still be out on Route 3K, but less traffic congestion proves we are moving in the right direction. Now if we could just resolve afternoon Paia traffic…
