'Ewa commuters are enduring yet another slowdown on Fort Weaver Road this week, but the big one is yet to come.

The one-lane shutdown that backed up traffic heading toward the H-1 Freeway at midday yesterday is just a one-week tree- trimming job.

The long-anticipated Fort Weaver widening project, last scheduled to start in August, won't start until later this month, state Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

Meanwhile, Ishikawa reported, there is good progress on the North-South Road that is expected to ease the traffic grind for 'Ewa and Kapolei motorists when it is completed in about two years.

The tree-trimming is taking place through the end of the week from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will shut down the right lane from a point just above the Old Fort Weaver Road intersection until the Laulaunui Street intersection. Trees affected are along the West Loch Golf Course and the bike lane on Fort Weaver.

The widening of Fort Weaver Road from four lanes to six, expected to start in August, is now scheduled to begin at the end of October or early November, Ishikawa said.

The project was delayed as state officials worked out a right-of-entry agreement with D.R. Horton & Associates over an easement. Extra time also was needed to rework the design for drainage of part of the road, he said.

WATCH FOR WORKERS

Ishikawa cautioned that motorists should be on the lookout for workers from contractor Hawaiian Dredging, who will be doing survey work and temporary restriping through the rest of the month, although that work is not expected to impede traffic, he said.

Concrete barriers will be put up to separate the construction areas from traffic, Ishikawa said.

The $59 million project is expected to take two years.

Work also is proceeding on North-South Road, which is expected to ease traffic through 'Ewa and Kapolei.

Construction of the $17 million Phase 1A from Kapolei Parkway to near Farrington Highway was recently completed, Ishikawa said. The contract for the $74 million Phase 1B was awarded at the middle of last month, while the notice to proceed was given for Phase 1C, involving construction of a new H-1 interchange, he said.

Ground was broken for the 2.5 mile, six-lane highway in February 2005, and it is expected to be completed in late 2009.

Gov. Linda Lingle recently released $12.8 million for Phase 1B. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands allocated an additional $6.7 million for construction of water and sewer lines.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.