An ongoing $24 million upgrade to Drum Road, which connects Helemano Military Reservation and the Kahuku Training Area, has the North Shore community hoping the Army would allow residents to use the improved access in the event of an evacuation.

The North Shore Neighborhood Board and other organizations are pushing for access, but the military must settle liability issues before considering approval, said Neighborhood Board chairman Michael Lyons.

Drum Road would be an ideal quick escape route in the event of a tsunami or emergency evacuation, Lyons said.