Traffic Cams Going To Kaneohe, Red Hill

HONOLULU -- The city and state are installing nearly 30 traffic cameras in Kaneohe and along Moanalua Freeway.

That will allow commuters and traffic management officials to watch traffic live in those areas for the first time.

The state and city are working together to give drivers a more complete picture of traffic on Oahu, and that could help you plan your commute better.

There have been no traffic cameras on the windward side, until now. The city has installed 19 cameras from Castle Junction, down the busiest portions of Kamehameha and Kahekili highways in Kaneohe.

"It gives us presence in Kaneohe for the first time," city Transportation Director Wayne Yoshioka said.

The cameras are not working yet, they still need to be connected to the city's traffic management system and will go into service sometime in January.

"We're working with the state DOT to use some of their fiber that's in H-3 to get our signal over to this side of the island so we can tap in to the whole thing," Yoshioka said.

Some Windward Oahu drivers like the idea.

"Because that way we know ahead of time how traffic is going to be, and we can re-route ourselves," motorist Mary Louch said.

Others said the $3.5 million project is not needed.

"I don't think it's necessary," motorist Jennifer Irvine said. "Just because the traffic flow over here is usually pretty much the same most days, and if there's an accident, you hear about it on the radio or on the TV."

On the other side of the mountain, there are lots of cameras along the H-1 Freeway, but there have not been any along Moanalua Freeway, until the state installed 10 huge towers with wireless cameras along this 4-mile stretch that is often bottle necked.

"When you're looking at the traffic camera coverage, when traffic reporters are doing their reports that Red Hill is that missing link. So, this is that piece to the puzzle that we needed," DOT spokeswoman Tammy Mori said.

The state is spending about $1.5 million on the cameras, which will also begin operating in January.

The idea is to eventually have all the images from state and city cameras on one Web site. So commuters can go online and check traffic before they leave home or the office.

"It's going to be a faster look at traffic, a more efficient look at traffic, and hopefully an overall faster commute," Mori said.

Traffic management officials will be able to immediately watch the traffic flow when they adjust traffic signals.

The city plans to install traffic cameras in other areas without coverage, 17 cameras are planned for Kailua and Waipio with 19 new traffic cams slated for Kapolei.

The federal government is picking up at least 80 percent of the cost of the projects.