Motorists mired in Kilauea traffic lately may have some relief soon as four portable traffic light units and two accompanying warning signs appeared over the weekend near a bridge construction project.

Flashing yellow and red, the lights are in place, and once activated, should allow safe exits from the intersection of Kolo Road and Kuhio Highway, said state Department of Transportation spokesperson Scott Ishikawa.

The lights appeared after many complained about North Shore traffic, mostly on Thursday. “Heavy rains Thursday caused a landslide near Lumaha‘i resulting in traffic tie-ups,” Ishikawa said. “Then of course there is the bridge project (in Kilauea) where traffic is being diverted.”

The traffic lights were installed mainly in response to Thursday’s complaints, he said.

Ishikawa said the lights will remain in a blinking pattern until the proper computer software is installed that will allow the lights to control the traffic onto and off of Kuhio Highway. He estimates that will happen within a couple weeks.

(Source: Dennis Fujimoto, Kauai Garden Island News)