State Department of Transportation officials, state representatives and the contracted construction company attended a blessing Tuesday for the state's H-1 Freeway PM Contraflow Project.

The project is said to cost $82.1 million.

A spokeswoman for the DOT said 80 percent of the project is federally funded with the remaining 20-percent paid with monies from the state's Highway Division.

The plan is to install an evening Zipper Lane.

The carpool lane will begin at the Radford Drive Overpass, stretch 7.2 miles to the Waikele exit.

"Every vehicle that uses the PM Contraflow will be removed from the normal traffic lanes, reducing congestion and travel times overall," said DOT director Glenn Okimoto.

At least two people are required to be in vehicles using the Zipper Lane. Buses are also allowed.

"The success of the AM traffic flow is obvious and now with this project it is certainly going to be a great benefit to us in West Oahu," said State Rep. Will Espero.

However, before the Zipper Lane can be implemented, the state is resurfacing portions of the freeway in Pearl City and Waimalu.

During the repairs, the state will close four lanes of traffic Sunday-Friday between 8 PM and 4AM.