Hawaii: Liloa Drive Extension

South Maui, Where the Sidewalk Ends  

Challenge: In South Maui, a road called Liloa Drive (aka the North-South Collector Road) provides locals with an important parallel alternative to the Pi‘ilani Highway and South Kihei Road. However, the smooth, safe surfaces that connects people to schools, stores and their homes abruptly turn to gravel and weeds. Plans for extending Liloa Drive were laid out in a community planning document back in 1998 and according to local news media residents have lobbied for an alternative route along this forgotten strip for years. With a new high school opening last year, safe, reliable local paths for cars and people are ever more important. 

Solution: With help from the bipartisan infrastructure investment law, the County of Maui, Department of Public Works (DPW) is moving forward with a plan to extend Liloa Drive and its integrated Kīhei Bikeway another .9 miles. The Phase I extension will increase capacity, improve traffic circulation, alleviate traffic congestion, and provide a safe corridor complete with landscaped pedestrian and bicycle facilities across two modern bridge spans and three new roundabouts. For area residents a smoother, safer corridor that provides accessibility and mobility to all users is finally just ahead. 

What they’re saying: “This federal grant will help move forward a long-awaited improvement project that will serve as the Kīhei North-South Collector Road and help to address traffic congestion in South Maui. We appreciate the support of US Senator Brian Schatz in advancing this critical project.” – Maui Mayor Richard Bissen (Maui Now, 06/30/2023)  

Photo credit: Munekiyo Hiraga