Local governments to spend $1.86B on infrastructure

In an effort to boost local employment and stem the economic losses in the tourism sector, Hawaii governments plan to spend $1.86 billion in statewide public infrastructure improvement projects. Construction on the projects, which were previously budgeted and approved by the state Legislature, will begin within the next 18 months, government officials said.

The 1,521 capital improvement projects, which involve schools, libraries, housing, airports, harbors, roads and streams, break down as follows:

• $1,002,675,910 (803 projects) for Oahu;
• $406,713,790 (327 projects) for the Big Island;
• $259,836,677 (217 projects) for Maui
• $143,850,497 (111 projects) for Kauai;
• $25,963,460 (35 projects) for Molokai; and
• $9,283,714 (18 projects) for Lanai.

In addition, ten other statewide projects total $17,197,989. Other public improvement projects already under way include $2.3 billion to modernize Hawaii airports and $618 million to modernize state harbors. Progress on the projects, including details on contract bids and permits, can be tracked via www.hawaii.gov/cip.