Residents of Waianae and West Oahu lack evacuation exit

[dale Evans]

The residents and visitors in Waianae Coast and West Oahu are vulnerable due to insufficient highway capacity to evacuate in the event of anticipated catastrophic hurricane. The need is decades old with no safe exitway yet.

Ongoing hurricanes in mainland U.S. this summer illustrate the urgency and utility for highway evacuation. Reversible HOT lanes in Indiana/Chicago area were opened, free of charge for alternate route.


Indiana Toll Rd Concession Company drops tolls on west end for 54 hrs to help in flood, TollRoadsNews, 9/21/08


Severe flooding of Borman Expressway I-80/94 started 9/14. ITR I-90 tollway suspended tolling and opened free from 9/16 @ 4pm to 9/18 @ 10pm. The Westpoint plaza was running 12 toll lanes westbound mornings (they recently added 2 toll lanes to the old 14 lanes for a total 16 lanes, 8 lanes being reversible).