Despite heavy equipment and crews working to reduce rockfall hazards along Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay yesterday, traffic moved smoothly, and North Shore businesses reported a normal day.

Similar work in April and seven years ago hurt some businesses financially as people stayed away to avoid the traffic tie-ups during construction hours.

"It hasn't affected our business at all," April Teixeira, manager at Ted's Bakery in Sunset Beach, said yesterday. "It's just normal."

The state Department of Transportation is revisiting the site where tons of boulders and debris fell in April, damaging the road and a protective fence that held back the worst of the onslaught.

Widening cracks in the overhead rock formation called for preventive action, so the state hired a contractor to remove loose material from the hillside.

Work began on the $151,000 project yesterday with warnings that drivers might have to wait up to 10 minutes as contractor Goodfellow Bros. Inc. installed temporary protective mesh to contain falling rocks and debris. During the rest of the project, workers will be removing potential slide hazards.

Work will continue daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Sunday, through Tuesday.

Residents reported that from 7:30 to noon yesterday, traffic was moving well with no or very little delay. And the people they spoke to didn't have any complaints, either.

"I drove right through," said Kat Adcox, who starts work at 8:30 a.m. at Waimea Audubon Center. "They didn't have anything blocked, and there was no problem for people coming into the park."

Adcox said all of the work was taking place behind barriers, and a large crane was lifting a metal net in place.

Teixeira, at Ted's Bakery, said there was some concern about employees getting to work, but no one complained or even mentioned anything about the project. She said she had to ask people, and they said traffic was moving.

Bee Johnson, a cashier at Sunset Chevron, said she didn't know about the project and customers aren't talking about it.

And Leonora Galiza,, a clerk at Sunset Beach Elementary School, said she didn't have to stop at all.

At least one resident has decided to stay home rather than face possible delays. David Bramlett, who lives between Sunset Beach and Hale'iwa, said he'll stay off the highway during the rock removal unless the trip is necessary.

"But I'm grateful that they are fixing it, because the implications are far more grave if left to chance," Bramlett said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.