In 1843, the first underwater tunnel was completed in London under the Thames River. It was built to accommodate the needs of the thriving city. Fifty years later the automobile was invented.

In 2006, traffic is the number one quality of life issue in Honolulu, especially the Leeward side. H-1 is saturated. The H-I and H-2 merge is at a crawl every morning. Meanwhile, the environment is getting polluted from fumes of idling cars, and gasoline costs continue to rise. The mayor continues to approve of thousands of more homes to be built.

Everyone knows the issue, the problem is can someone step up to the plate to offer a solution?

We can't double deck the freeway. Its foundation was not built for double decking and even if it was, many will be opposed to the blight it will create.

Who wants to propose widening the freeway and exercise eminent domain? No one yet, and no one will.

What public policy should we write? Should we do nothing? Say that to the angry people on the Leeward Coast. Being a resident of 'Ewa Beach, I know exactly what the response is. So, what is the solution? What will be a sound public policy?

The underwater tunnel study concept was presented and endorsed by the 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Waipahu, Wai'anae, and Mililani Neighborhood Boards. Act 178 appropriated $200,000 for its preliminary study.

Futuristic? I used the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel in Virginia 1976. I paid $8 to use it. I was not in a movie. Underwater highway tunnels are real. They have been around in the United States since 1924 and all over the world.

The Pearl Harbor highway tunnel will be no different from the tunnels on the eastern seaboard that are traversed by military vessels on a daily basis, except this one will be reversible. It would be townbound in the morning rush hours and 'ewabound in the afternoon.

From the beginning, I have been saying repeatedly that this will be built with private funds — meaning a toll road. We can no longer rely on government to provide for our infrastructure. If we are to wait for government funding, it will be just like the rail project. It will be around 15 years from now by the time we get to ride it. We needed traffic relief yesterday.

I will be introducing bills to allow the state to enter into private-public partnerships. The private sector can build it faster and deliver a much better product. Through this process, we need not raise taxes. Those who do not wish to pay can use existing roads. We need alternatives.

Security? It takes a truckload of bombs to blow up a tunnel. If this is a concern, then trucks will not be allowed inside the tunnel. Besides, the headquarters of the Pacific Command is on this island. The U.S. Navy has domain of the Pacific Ocean. They can and should protect it rather than deny us traffic relief.

New York City has 14 underwater tunnels. There is a proposal to install floodgates at the cost of $17 million as a precaution to terrorist attacks. Concerns can be mitigated.

In the event that there is a military opposition to crossing the mouth of Pearl Harbor, a longer tunnel can be built. Parsons Brinckerhoff did a feasibility assessment of a five-mile underground tunnel for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). It is priced at $3 billion and is five miles with eight lanes. This amount reflected extra cost because of construction in a earthquake zone. Folks, they are building it near a fault line. The proposed toll will be anywhere from $2 to $7 per trip. Wouldn't you rather pay $2 than to pay $10 for gasoline?

We spend $2.3 billion a year on public education, why not on a tunnel that could last hundreds of years. Everyone will benefit from the underwater highway where the right-of-way already exists. It will be paid by toll fees over a period of time. People will have the choice of using it or not.

Underwater tunnels are found in California, Michigan, Virginia, and Massachusetts, Washington state, New York, and Florida and all over the world.

By the way, the Thames River Tunnel is still operational today.

Rep. Rida Cabanilla represents District 42 (Waipahu, Honouliuli, 'Ewa). Reach her at repcabanilla@capitol.hawaii.gov, or (808) 586-6080.