The Board of Water Supply is scheduled to begin replacing 2,400 feet of distribution pipeline and appurtenances on Ward Avenue from Kinau Street to Kapiolani Boulevard beginning on Oct. 1.

Roadwork will be conducted Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and during the evening when possible.  A contractor will be replacing a 12-inch waterline installed in 1963, an 8-inch waterline installed in 1959, and upsizing a 6-inch waterline installed in 1960 to an 8-inch waterline.

The rehabilitation to the water system will improve fire protection, help to reduce the likelihood of emergency water main breaks, and enhance water service to residents and businesses in the area.   Customers that will benefit from this project include area condominiums, the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, Hawaiian Electric Company, Straub Clinic and Hospital, and the Honolulu Museum of Art.

Construction will begin at the Kapiolani Boulevard intersection and will continue mauka towards Kinau Street.  This project will cause traffic delays for drivers taking the Kinau Street off-ramp from the H-1 Freeway in the eastbound direction as well as along Ward Avenue in both the mauka and makai directions.

Motorists are advised to please try to use alternate routes if possible.  Drivers traveling through the construction area are asked to please abide by posted traffic signs and allow for additional travel time.  The water system improvement project is expected to be completed sometime around May 2013, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The Board of Water Supply encourages the community to visit www.boardofwatersupply.com for weekly project updates and traffic patterns, or call 748-5310 to hear a voice recording with the information.  Questions and comments may also be directed to Community Planning and Engineering, Inc., at 542-7424 or to the Board of Water Supply Construction Section at 748-5730.