Interstate H-3

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Interstate H3 Main route of the Interstate Highway System
Length:	15.32 mi[1] (24.66 km)
West end:	H-1 in Hālawa, HI
East end:	Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Routes in Hawaii

Interstate H-3 (abbreviated H-3) is an intrastate interstate highway located on the island of O‘ahu in the state of Hawai‘i, United States. H-3 is also known as the John A. Burns Freeway. Despite the number, signage is that of an east-west highway. However, most residents would consider the route to run north and south: from the windward (northeast) coast to the south side of the island. Its western (or southern) terminus is at an intersection with Interstate H-1 at Hālawa near Pearl Harbor. Its eastern end is at the main gate for Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH). This route satisfies the national defense purpose of connecting the Marine Corps base with the U.S. Navy port at Pearl Harbor off Interstate H-1.

Orders for the freeway were granted in 1960, followed by planning stages. Construction was begun in the late 1980s, although the road did not open until December 12, 1997. Environmental complaints halted construction at many intervals, as well as many legal challenges. In fact, construction was only able to resume during the late 1980's due to an unprecedented move by U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, who in 1986 had the freeway exempted from virtually all environmental laws[1] as a "rider" on a Department of Defense budget bill[2].

Contents 1 Route description 2 Major cities 3 Intersections with other interstates 4 Spur routes 5 Controversy 6 Notes 7 References

[edit] Route description

Interstate H-3 begins at the Halawa Interchange with Interstates H-1 and H-201. The freeway then runs along a viaduct through Halawa Valley for about 6 miles until it reaches the Tetsuo Harano Tunnels through the Koolau Mountains. Once on the eastern end of the tunnel, the highway follows a viaduct built along the side of Haiku Valley until the Kaneohe Interchange with state route 63 (Likelike Highway) which leads into the town of Kaneohe. The highway then continues to the Halekou Interchange with state route 83 (Kamehameha Highway), then for four more miles until it reaches the main gate of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

[edit] Major cities

Bolded cities are officially-designated control cities for signs.

• Aiea
• Kāne'ohe

[edit] Intersections with other interstates

• Interstate H-1 at Hālawa
• Interstate H-201 or SR 78 at Hālawa

[edit] Spur routes

None

[edit] Controversy

Since its inception in the early 1960's, the H-3 Freeway has been mired in controversy. Even today, Kanaka Maoli cultural practitioners continue to call for its removal due to its route through an area of extreme cultural significance[3][4]. Many contend that the freeway is "cursed" due to its destruction of religious sites[5][6], and is therefore harmful even to those who transverse it[7][8]. Ongoing environmental concerns include the ongoing decline of pueo, alauahi'o, and other native birds, weed encroachment, light pollution, asbestos pollution, water and streamlife problems, and a host of other concerns[9].

Longtime residents of Ko'olaupoko and other "North Shore" communities also continue to object to the freeway's presence due to its developmental impacts on their community [10]. Among their primary fears are urbanization on the scale of Honolulu via the freeway, which has the potential to bring heavy traffic and growth into their traditionally quiet neighborhoods, as well as lowering the value of their homes in the (until recently) relatively exclusive communities. [11].

Conversely, this road is considered an engineering wonder by its admirers.

[edit] Notes

H-3 is perhaps the most expensive (on a cost per unit distance basis) of any Interstate constructed. It crosses the Ko'olau mountain along a viaduct and through the 5,165 foot (1.6 km) long Tetsuo Harano Tunnels as well as the much smaller Hospital Rock Tunnels. For over 20 years, the completion of this highway was uncertain, as it runs through culturally and environmentally sensitive areas and some park lands were eventually used. But now, this freeway runs through a subtropical forest and over the rugged spine of windward O'ahu.

This roadway is somewhat unique in another respect. It is the only significant span of roadway on O‘ahu and perhaps in Hawai‘i where drivers regularly travel at speeds over 60 mph (100 km/h), and 70 mph (110 km/h). The posted speed limit varies between 45 and 60 mph (70-100 km/h).

An interesting story relates to the elevated section passing through Ha‘ikū Valley. In this valley, the viaduct passed beneath the antenna of a United States Coast Guard radio transmission facility. It was thought that the energy field from the antenna could interfere with heart pacemakers—a potential detriment to drivers and passengers on the roadway. A giant metal cage was designed to surround the roadway through the valley. Before H-3 was opened, the Coast Guard closed their transmitting facility, obviating the need for the cage. Although the full cage was never built, buried within the roadway was the bottom of the cage. HDOT decided to remove this steel mesh (at considerable expense) prior to opening of the freeway to minimize inconvenience to the motoring public at some later time.

[edit] References

1. ^ Route Log - Main Routes of the Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 1

edit Main Interstate Highways (multiples of 5 in pink)
4	5	8	10	12	15	16	17	19	20	22	24	25	26	27	29	30
35	37	39	40	43	44	45	49	55	57	59	64	65	66	66 (W)		68
69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76 (W)		76 (E)		77	78	79	80	81	82
83	84 (W)		84 (E)		85	86 (W)		86 (E)		87	88 (W)		88 (E)		89	90
91	93	94	95	96	97	99	(238)		H-1		H-2		H-3
Unsigned			A-1		A-2		A-3		A-4		PRI-1		PRI-2		PRI-3
Lists		Main - Auxiliary - Suffixed - Business - Proposed - Unsigned Gaps - Intrastate - Interstate standards - Replaced