A highway linking windward Oahu to town is getting much needed upgrades.

The Likelike Highway Safety Improvement Project is a long-term effort to clean up the Kaneohe and Honolulu bound lanes by repaving and patching up potholes. It began on February 26 and is expected to be completed in August.

Parts of the road have been closed off for construction crews to complete inspections. From Thursday at 9 p.m. to Friday at 2 a.m., the Likelike Highway Resurfacing Project closed off the Kaneohe-bound direction between Nalanieha Street in Kalihi and Wilson Tunnel.

“The scope of work for the project consists of replacing and/or adjusting existing guardrails and guardrail end treatments; installing pavement markings, signs, and milled rumble strips; applying high friction surface treatment on existing asphalt concrete pavement; regrooving of existing Portland cement concrete pavement at Wilson Tunnels,” said Justin Tadaki, member of the Hawai’i Department of Transportation.

The Likelike Highway is one of three main highways passing through the Koolau Mountains. Many residents rely on the highway to get to work, school and other activities on either side of the island.

“Some problems are that it’s continuously under construction due to the many obstructions and potholes in the road,” said Kayla Balandran, a Kalihi resident who travels to Kaneohe for school and has been negatively impacted by the construction. “This causes the highway to close down a lot, which prevents us from getting to and from our house.”

Daily users hope the construction solves the problems of the highway.

“I think it’s a good idea as it’s going to fix a lot of the problems that we’re already having with the highway,” Balandran said. “However I know it’s going to create a lot of setbacks as for transportation since we’re going to have to take alternative longer roads.”