Public Notices Manager

POH-2018-00104

Published Oct. 22, 2018
Expiration date: 11/22/2018
Generally, during construction, access to sidewalks/pathways and parks would be maintained. However, some areas may require temporary closure to protect the public during construction. These areas would be provided with an alternative access. Small portions of parks are also under consideration for staging and materials storage. To ensure public safety, access to these areas would be temporarily modified but would not prevent public use of the parks or access to the shoreline. The existing bike path on the mauka side of the canal and along the Ala Wai Neighborhood/Community Park may need to be temporarily used for construction access. If possible, the bike path would be rerouted so it can continue to be safely used. Any work that results in damage to these facilities would be restored to pre-construction conditions by the contactor when the project is completed. Prior to construction DLNR would develop a communication plan with contact information (phone number, e-mail, or other means) where the public can obtain information on project progress and/or provide input.<p align="LEFT">4. <b>Minor impacts to traffic/parking. </b>Construction-related work may require the temporary closure of roads and the use of limited parking along Ala Wai Boulevard and within the surrounding parks. As required, traffic controls such as safety cones, signage, and/or flag personnel would be implemented to alert motorists and the public to the presence of construction workers and personnel, and to exercise caution. The use of parking stalls along Ala Wai Boulevard would be limited to only select locations that front the stairwells leading into the canal. This use of parking is for the contractor to deliver materials and equipment to the job site and would be temporary lasting only for the time needed to complete the work.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p> </p>

Public Notice Fact Sheet

What’s going on?


The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch (Corps) is reviewing an application from
the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). DLNR is proposing to
improve the Ala Wai Canal with the following: [1] maintenance dredge the Ala Wai Canal (from
the Ala Moana Boulevard Bridge to the Kapahulu Library) and portions of the Mānoa-Pālolo
Drainage Canal (MPDC) (from Date Street to the Ala Wai Canal); [2] repair two sections of the
Ala Wai Canal walls; and [3] remove up to four existing Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
cables and twelve concrete slabs protecting the cables in the Ala Wai Canal. The Corps is
conducting a public notice (i.e. asking for comments from the public) about DLNR’s proposed
project as part of the Department of Army permitting review. This fact sheet was created to
clarify information presented in the public notice.

Have a comment or question specifically about this project, but don’t see it addressed on the
fact sheet below? Please send an email to Vera.B.Koskelo@usace.army.mil before November
21, 2018 and include this number in the email title: POH-2018-00104.

1. Why dredge Ala Wai Canal? The Ala Wai Canal serves as an essential drainageway and
sediment basin for the Ala Wai watershed. Over time, the build-up of sediments into the Ala
Wai Canal has affected the canal’s sediment- and water-holding capacity, reducing the
canal’s ability to temporarily contain and then release storm water when there are heavy
storm events. Reductions in the Ala Wai Canal’s capacity increases risks associated with
flooding and leads to more sediment discharged into the ocean.

Removing accumulated sediment from the Ala Wai Canal and MPDC would increase
water depths in the proposed dredge areas, which would improve the Ala Wai Canal’s
capacity to hold sediment and water, reducing the risk of flooding and related problems in
surrounding areas during big storms. The DLNR also anticipates that conditions would
improve for recreational use of the Ala Wai Canal and its surrounding environment.

2. Minor, temporary impacts to paddler access in Ala Wai Canal. Generally, dredging
activities would allow watercraft passage on one side of the dredging barge and would not
block popular access points or canoe launch sites. However, there would be temporary
periods during maneuvering of dredging equipment when access must be restricted to
maintain public safety. Construction activities would be temporarily modified and/or stopped
during special events that use the canal, e.g., regattas or other water-related activities.
These periods of temporary work stoppage would be determined by DLNR through on-going
coordination that was started in 2016 with area canoe/kayak clubs, users, and
organizations. Prior to construction DLNR would develop a communication plan with contact
information (phone number, e-mail, or other means) where the public can obtain information
on project progress and/or provide input and would reach out to paddling groups. DLNR
expects that, in the long term, the dredging would improve navigation of the Ala Wai Canal.

 

3. Minor, temporary impacts to walking/bike paths and surrounding parks.