The state Department of Transportation will begin pouring a concrete overlay on the uphill lanes of Haleakala Highway on Maui beginning Dec. 15.

Adding the 4-inch layer of concrete over the 5-mile stretch will increase the life span of the road to more than 30 years and ultimately save the state millions of dollars, said Jiro Sumada, deputy director of DOT's Highways Division.

"The Federal Highways Administration agreed to participate in extending the life of the uphill lanes after doing an alternative cost comparison for concrete versus asphalt," Sumada said in a news release. "As asphalt prices rise, concrete roads are becoming more competitive and last much longer. This particular concrete overlay project will be one of the largest in the country."

The work will be done in three phases in order to minimize disruption to motorists. Work in the first phase will start above North Firebreak Road and extend just past Keahua Junction. The second phase will affect the lanes above Keahua Junction to Hali'imaile Road, covering a one-mile section.

Work in the last phase will be focused on the half-mile section below the Old Haleakala Road off-ramp. The entire project is expected to be completed in March.

Weekly road construction update are available on its Web site at: www.hawaii.gov/dot.