For at least a decade, Kalihi Valley residents have been pushing the city to address safety concerns on the only major road that serves their community.

But financial constraints and other priorities have stalled a plan to widen Kalihi Street, install sidewalks and straighten a blind S-curve, city officials said. So one state lawmaker is proposing that the state foot the bill for at least a portion of the project, which could cost as much as $75 million and require condemning land for road widening.

State Rep. John Mizuno, whose district covers Kalihi Valley, said he understands the proposal is unconventional, expensive and comes as the state is grappling with a shrinking pot of money and a lengthening list of needs.

But he said the work is needed to make sure children in the growing community are safe when they walk to school, and the elderly are able to wait for the bus without fearing they will be hit.

"Our keiki and kupuna walk on that street, and they don't have any sidewalks available to them," he said. "That's a recipe for disaster."

Mizuno has introduced a bill that asks for $65 million for construction along the city-owned road and side streets and $10 million for land condemnation, along with some money for miscellaneous improvements. He is not expecting all of that money to come from the state, but he is hopeful the street project will get at least 10 percent of what he asked for in the first year to cover a streetwide design study.

In the meantime, he also has pledged to search for federal money that he says could offset the price of the project for the state. Since the problem areas are near Kalihi Uka Elementary School, there is a good chance federal programs could pitch in with money because they have programs that address local streets and sidewalk improvements near schools, Mizuno said.

His proposal would widen portions of Kalihi Street, straighten it in spots and install sidewalks on the busy thoroughfare used by about 20,000 Kalihi residents.

The chances of the bill passing in whole or part are still unclear so early in the session.

State Rep. Marilyn Lee, vice chairwoman of the House Finance Committee, pointed out there are several bills lawmakers are going through that ask for state money for worthy projects — and not all of them can be funded.

The Kalihi Street bill, now before the House Finance Committee, comes as the road is getting more congested. More younger families are moving into Kalihi Valley yearly, which means more cars on the road and more kids walking along the street, some to Kalihi Uka Elementary School near the entrance to Kalihi Valley, and others to catch buses to other schools.

Also, a new nature park at the back of Kalihi Valley is slowly expanding its programs. Eventually, it will offer camping, gardening, nature trails and community classes, all of which will add — perhaps considerably so — to the number of people traveling on Kalihi Street.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

The proposal has Kalihi Valley residents hopeful that Kalihi Street — a winding, hilly two-lane road littered with deep ruts — could get a makeover. But many also are tempering their optimism, mindful that their community has been passed over before.

Neal Umamoto, 49, who was born and raised in Kalihi Valley, said Kalihi Street has been in bad shape for years.

The roadway has become more of a safety hazard recently, though, as more younger families with children move in to the low- and middle-income community seeking affordable rents and larger homes. Many of those kids are forced to walk on the road in places.

"It's filled with potholes. There's no sidewalks," Umamoto said.

But he and others questioned how a road widening project would work, and just how it would affect homeowners and parking along the congested street. Though many want Kalihi Street straightened, widened and repaved, they also don't want to lose valuable parking.

Bill Woods, chairman of the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board, said an informal survey conducted by volunteers several years ago showed that widening the road, straightening it in places and installing asphalt sidewalks would preserve most existing on-street parking.

But Woods understands the concerns of residents. He also said it could be difficult to persuade some to hand over a portion of their property for a road-widening project. In some cases, the condemnation could extend to homes, as many are built close to the road.

A PROBLEM FOR YEARS

Woods and his board have been grappling with the state of Kalihi Street for years.

It is an almost-monthly agenda item — and a frustrating topic for board members and residents, who have seen no action despite so much activism.

"Sure, this is only one street," Woods said. "It just happens to be a major thoroughfare that doesn't have sidewalks."

The city has recognized the need to address concerns along Kalihi Street, and in 2000 added a project to straighten out the S-curve near the end of the valley on its list of priority construction projects. Though a host of road rehabilitation projects are under way by the city in Downtown Honolulu, Kaimuki and Manoa, city budget priority documents show the Kalihi Street project is not expected to get funding before 2013 — at the earliest.

Eugene Lee, director of the city Department of Design and Construction, confirmed the project is not planned for the near future. He added it's rare for the state to pitch in money for a city road project. But, he said, "It does happen from time to time."

'THEY JUST NEED HELP'

Officials said the Kalihi Valley project also could include cost sharing, with the state, federal government and city all pitching in to get the road finished and sidewalks installed.

City Councilman Rod Tam, whose district includes Kalihi Valley, said the city has been too financially strapped to address the Kalihi project — and won't be able to for a long while.

"Any assistance from the state would be welcome," Tam said.

"To residents, it doesn't matter if it's state or city funds. They just need help."

Tam pointed out that Kalihi Street was built before city standards required rain gutters, sidewalks and other safety measures. "Basically, it's the days of the horse and buggy," he said. "All that area is substandard."

Side streets also are a problem, so Mizuno's bill asks that several be assessed to determine whether sidewalks and other measures could be installed.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.