Oahu drivers should brace for more nighttime travel disruptions, as the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced the extension of the full closure of the westbound H-201 Moanalua Freeway. The initial plan to wrap up the work by the end of July has shifted, with closures now extending through August due to weather-related delays. HDOT has cited “14 unworkable days due to weather,” implying the schedule’s susceptibility to the elements.
The closures will facilitate continued repaving efforts, with three right lanes on the westbound H-201 Moanalua Freeway, from the Middle Street overpass to the Hālawa Interchange, being closed from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. the following day, from tomorrow, through Friday. This schedule is set to occur Sunday through Thursday nights, according to the HDOT’s announcement. Starting Aug. 10, an additional lane closure is slated to result in a full westbound closure through last Thursday, a delay stemming from unforeseen and unworkable conditions laid upon the original timeline.
For motorists looking to navigate the closures, the HDOT has set a detour in place. Westbound traffic will be rerouted via the Middle Street off-ramp (Exit 19A) from the westbound H-201 Moanalua Freeway to the Fort Shafter/Kaua Street on-ramp to re-enter the freeway. Special duty police officers are expected to be on-site to assist with traffic control and ensure safety during the detours. HDOT has posted electronic message boards around the area to inform drivers of the changes…