Construction begins next week on a $10.3 million connector road between Keala-kehe and the Villages at La'i'opua that will pro-vide Kailua-area motor-ists a new mauka-to-makai access.

The road will stretch about 3,800 feet from Keanalehu Drive in the Villages of La'i'opua to connect with Kealaka'a Street in the Kealakehe housing area.

The county will close the Kealakehe pedestrian pathway, and is asking students in the area to use buses or find other ways of getting to school while the pathway is closed during the one-year construction period.

For updated information on roadwork around the Big Island, call 334-9559.