Q. I was one of the hundreds of motorists stuck in stop-and-go traffic on H-1 Freeway 'ewa-bound Dec. 12 to 14 from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. The traffic coning started at the Wilder exit, going from three lanes to two lanes and down to one lane just before the Pali exit, where the construction started. Why were the lanes closed so far up the freeway when there was nothing going on until almost a mile later? The electric sign warning motorists of lane closures and advising use of "alternate routes" was set up at the Lunalilo exit. Kind of late to plan accordingly! So I tried an alternate and took the Lunalilo exit to reach the airport via Nimitz. I got stuck in traffic there, too, with more lane closures right after City Mill. Why were two major thoroughfares, going west, under construction at the same time? I called the state highway division. After being sent to four different numbers, I don't know if I got the right person. I got his voice mail and no response.

A. The state apologizes for any inconvenience and will see if the portable electronic signs can be posted farther ahead, according to Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa. He said the lanes are closed to give adequate work space for crews and to give drivers time to slow down. "We have had near-misses when people would just speed by our crews," he said.

Ishikawa said the state decided to repave that stretch of the H-1 near Kalihi last month to beat the rainy season and help prevent the potholes that are formed when water gets under the road surface. He said the Nimitz Highway repaving between the H-1 Airport Viaduct to downtown Honolulu is now complete.

The public can call two numbers for complaints and inquiries: the Public Affairs Office at 587-2160 and a construction hot line at 587-6316 as part of the H-1 widening that will run until this spring.

Q. When will that Pali Highway repaving be done?

A. Expect the last part of the repaving of Pali Highway to be completed — weather permitting — in March, state spokesman Ishikawa said. Crews now are working between Kapa'a Quarry Road and Castle Junction townbound. The last phase will create two left-turn lanes from Kapa'a Quarry Road to Pali, Kailua-bound.

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