Maui County is moving ahead with a $10 million project to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Makawao Avenue and Makani Road, the Maui News reported.

Plans call for road widening and creating inbound and outbound turn lanes at the intersection as well as bicycle lanes and sidewalks from the Mayor Eddie Tam Gym to Kalama Intermediate School. Other project features include the installation of street lights, the relocation of utilities and drainage improvements.

Landowners who would lose property because of the road widening would be compensated, according to a draft environmental assessment published Thursday by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. A 30-day public comment period began with the date of publication in the office's Environmental Notice.

Councilman Mike Molina, who holds the council's Makawao-Haiku-Paia seat, said the roadway project has been discussed for about four years.

Pedestrian safety is a "big concern," he said, because Makani Road leads to Kalama Intermediate.

"A lot of kids walk to school," Molina said. "Sometimes they're walking on the road or close to traffic. The sooner we deal with this (roadway) improvement the better."

The county has set aside $500,000 to plan the project and another $500,000 to acquire private property to widen roadways, according to a staff member with the Office of Council Services.