The state is moving ahead with two major freeway projects that are aimed at easing traffic gridlock on O'ahu during the morning and afternoon rush-hour periods.

The Department of Transportation yesterday presented an update on its H-1 Freeway afternoon contraflow and Middle Street widening projects to the Citizen Advisory Committee of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. The total estimated cost of the projects is $155 million and the work is intended to ease west-bound traffic in the afternoon and east-bound congestion in the morning.

Ed Sniffen of the DOT's design branch told the committee that both projects are needed because of the amount of time and fuel wasted by motorists who deal with the gridlock each day. A 2007 study determined that a driver wastes 20 gallons of gas and 30 hours each year while stuck in traffic.

"I don't need to tell you guys that our studies show that we've got congestion," Sniffen said. "You sit in it every day."

The first project would add a contraflow lane on the H-1 Freeway in the 'ewa direction from the Radford Drive overpass to the Waiawa interchange. During nonpeak times, Sniffen said, that drive should take about 8 minutes, but during the height of traffic the commute can take an additional 10 to 17 minutes.

He said the DOT has some design ideas, but it will be up to the contractor to design and build the project, which is estimated to cost $55 million. Sniffen said some of the requirements include that one lane be added and that it be at least 11 feet wide and have 6-foot shoulders.

The state hopes to advertise for bids next month and award a contract in June 2010. The construction should take 10 months and be completed in early 2012, Sniffen said.

The Middle Street project is more extensive and carries a hefty $100 million price tag. The project involves the stretch of freeway from the Ola Lane overpass to Vineyard Boulevard.

Because the state has to do an environment assessment, the project won't go out to bid until at least late 2010. If all goes as planned, the work should be completed in mid-2014, Sniffen said.

He said the idea is to reduce the bottleneck in that area by eliminating the daily traffic jam at the merge outside the Middle Street tunnel. Studies have shown that improvements could shave 10 to 20 minutes off a daily commute.

"This is by far the worst bottleneck in the state," Sniffen said. "It's been congested since it was built and they've studied it in every decade. The governor told us enough studying already."

He said options include restriping the lanes, which Sniffen said isn't the preferred option, or adding a new lane. A new lane would require removing or altering six major abutments along the route.

Sniffen said this will mean some land on Farrington High School will have to be used, as well as possibly some private property. He said officials hope that they won't have to do this.

"One of the things that we committed to the governor is that we're not going to take private property if not absolutely necessary," Sniffen said.